"In an effort to forestall the frailty and isolation of old age, psychiatrist Millard Salter intends to kill himself at the end of the day-but not before he ties up his life's loose ends. These include a with his ne'er-do-well youngest son, Lysander, who at 43 has yet to hold down a paying job; an unscheduled rendezvous with his first wife, Carol, whom he hasn't seen in 27 years; and a brief visit to the grave of his second wife, Isabelle, with whom he fathered an illegitimate child. Yet on what he intends to be the final day of his life, Millard has also assumed a far greater responsibility: to assist a theater director suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease in ending her own life with a helium hood. Complicating this plan is that, during the months since Compassionate Endings has paired Millard with Delilah, the widower has fallen in love with her. As Millard sets about wrapping up his life, he confronts a lifetime of challenges during a single day: a narcissistic colleague intent on having his job, an obsessive administrator browbeating him for a report that will doom his colleagues, and an escaped lynx that is roaming the hospital in search of prey. Meanwhile, as Millard prepares for his impending suicide, his family is planning a surprise for him of its own"--

The Misunderstanding is Irène Némirovsky's first novel, written when she was just twenty-one and published in a literary journal two years later. An intense story of self-destructive and blighted love, it is also a tragic satire of French society after the Great War. Yves Harteloup, scarred by the war, is a disappointed young man, old money fallen on hard times, who returns for the summer to the rich, comfortable Atlantic resort of Hendaye, where he spent blissful childhood holidays. He becomes infatuated with a beautiful, bored young woman, Denise, whose rich husband is often away on business. Intoxicated by summer nights and Yves' intensity, Denise falls passionately in love, before the idyll has to end and Yves must return to his mundane office job. In the mournful Paris autumn their love flounders on mutual misunderstanding, in the apparently unbridgeable gap between a life of idle wealth and the demands of making a living, between a woman's needs and a man's way of loving. As Denise is driven mad with desire and jealous suspicion, Yves, too sure of her, tortures himself and her with his emotional ambivalence. Taking her sophisticated mother's advice, Denise takes action...which she may regret forever. With a sharp satirical eye and a characteristic perception for the fault lines in human relationships, Irène Némirovsky's first novel shows sure signs of the brilliant novelist she was to become.

In this acclaimed biographical novel, Irving Stone brings to life the tender and poignant love story of Rachel and Andrew Jackson. "Beyond any doubt one of the great romances of all time." -- The Saturday Review of Literature

Three Steps on the Ladder of Writing is a poetic, insightful, and ultimately moving exploration of 'the strange science of writing.' In a magnetic, irresistible narrative, Cixous reflects on the writing process and explores three distinct areas essential for 'great' writing: The School of the Dead --the notion that something or someone must die in order for good writing to be born; The School of Dreams --the crucial role dreams play in literary inspiration and output; and The School of Roots --the importance of depth in the 'nether realms' in all aspects of writing. Cixous's love of language and passion for the written word is evident on every page. Her emotive style draws heavily on the writers she most admires: the Brazilian novelist Clarice Lispector, the Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva, the Austrian novelists Ingeborg Bachmann and Thomas Bernhard, Dostoyevsky and, most of all, Kafka.

The former Poet Laureate of the United States, Nemerov gives us a lucid and precise twist on the commonplaces of everyday life. The Collected Poems of Howard Nemerov won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 1978. "Howard Nemerov is a witty, urbane, thoughtful poet, grounded in the classics, a master of the craft. It is refreshing to read his work. . . . "— Minneapolis Tribune "The world causes in Nemerov a mingled revulsion and love, and a hopeless hope is the most attractive quality in his poems, which slowly turn obverse to reverse, seeing the permanence of change, the vices of virtue, the evanescence of solidities and the errors of truth."—Helen Vendler, New York Times Book Review

In the mountains of West Virginia Dan learned the price of work, love, and murder--when murder was a man's last resort. Daniel Boone Huggins, shaped by violent tragedy and a restless passion for beautiful women, rose from poverty to become the most powerful--and dangerous--labor organizer in America.

In this funny, chic and wise book, award-winning fashion writer Hadley Freeman separates the nonsense from the fabulous and shows that falling in love with an It bag doesn't mean you have the IQ of an It girl. Ever the entertaining guide, Hadley shows how to wear shorts without looking like an extra in Hamlet , what to spend money on, and what not to, and why only harpists should wear velvet. And most of all, she shows that you don't need to be thin, young, tall or rich to enjoy fashion, you just need a sense of humour. If you've ever lusted after an improbably priced key ring, wondered why there's a large chunk of fashion that girls get but boys don't, got into an exuberant state at a party and left your 'clutch' bag in the ladies or spent fruitless hours worrying about what to wear on a date, this is the book for you.

Young Fred Waitzkin is a Jewish boy stretched between the divergent values of parents who cannot tolerate one another. Fred's father, Abe, is a brilliantly talented salesman whose relentless will drives him to succeed-he literally brightens American cities with fluorescent lighting fixtures. Abe marries Stella, an abstract artist and daughter of a wealthy industrialist with whom Abe forges an alliance. When his parents' marriage disintegrates, Fred retreats into fishing, learning the trade from the master captains of Bimini. In scenes ranging from Long Island synagogues to evenings with famous painters to the boats of drug smugglers and the once marlin-rich waters of the Gulf Stream, Fred sinks boats and battles thousand-pounders believing that fishing is the only hope. Woven through this compelling narrative are moving insights about childhood, families, and a love of the sea.

'Francesa Segal is precise and funny, and The Awkward Age is brimming with keen observations of the highest order--the clever, the sore, and the sublime.' Emma Straub In a Victorian terraced house, in north-west London, two families have united in imperfect harmony. After five years of widowhood, Julia has fallen deeply, unexpectedly in love. James is everything she never knew she wanted - if only her beloved teenaged daughter, Gwen, didn't hate him so much. At the very least, Gwen could be civil to James's son, Nathan. Bringing together two households is never easy, but Gwen's struggle for independence will test her mother's loyalty, and her unexpected actions will threaten this fragile new happiness. The Awkward Age is about the new family; about starting over, about the attempt to build something beautiful amid the mess and complexity of what came before. It is a story about standing by the ones we love, even while they hurt us. We would do anything to make our children happy. But how much should we give?

When Cassie Munro fled her hometown of Bilkara to follow the charismatic Dan to the other side of the world, she never expected to return. Now, devastated by revelations of Dan's betrayal and the news of a brutal attack on her father, she returns home with nothing left to lose. Against her better judgement, she finds herself battling to save the family business.In the midst of her struggle, Cassie is reunited with her first love, Mack, who forces her to confront a guilty secret and the tragic past they share.

In this first book from an openly lesbian and celibate Catholic, widely published writer and blogger Eve Tushnet recounts her spiritual and intellectual journey from liberal atheism to faithful Catholicism and shows how gay Catholics can love and be loved while adhering to Church teaching. Eve Tushnet was among the unlikeliest of converts. The only child of two atheist academics, Tushnet was a typical Yale undergraduate until the day she went out to poke fun at a gathering of philosophical debaters, who happened also to be Catholic. Instead of enjoying mocking what she termed the zoo animals, she found herself engaged in intellectual conversation with them and, in a move that surprised even her, she soon converted to Catholicism. Already self-identifying as a lesbian, Tushnet searched for athird way in the seeming two-option system available to gay Catholics: reject Church teaching on homosexuality or reject the truth of your sexuality. Gay and Catholic is the fruit of Tushnet's searching: what she learned in studying Christian history and theology and her articulation of how gay Catholics can pour their love and need for connection into friendships, community, service, and artistic creation.

They met as children, innocents from two different worlds. And from that moment their lives were fated to be forever entwined. Timothy : Abandoned at birth, he finds a home--and a dazzling career--within the Catholic Church. But the vows he takes cannot protect him from one soul-igniting passion. Daniel : The scholarly son of a great rabbi, he is destined to follow in his father's footsteps. And destined to break his father's heart. Deborah : She was raised to be docile and dutiful--the perfect rabbi's wife--but love will lead her to rebellion. And into world's the patriarch would never dare imagine. Reaching across more than a quarter of a century, from the tough streets of Brooklyn to ultramodern Brasilia to an Israeli kibbutz, and radiating the splendor of two holy cities, Rome and Jerusalem, here is Erich Segal's most provocative and ambitious novel to date--the unforgettable story of three extraordinary lives...and one forbidden love. From the Paperback edition.

Discover the Untold Story of Love and Inspiration Step into the enchanting world of ""Alide: An Episode of Goethe's Life"" by the illustrious Emma Lazarus, now revived for the first time in decades. This captivating novel, republished by Alpha Editions, offers a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of one of history's greatest literary figures, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Set against the backdrop of 18th-century Germany, ""Alide"" weaves a tale of passion, creativity, and the profound influence of a mysterious muse. Lazarus masterfully captures the essence of Goethe's inner world, exploring the delicate interplay between life and art, love and ambition. This collector's edition is more than just a book; it's a timeless treasure for both literary enthusiasts and history buffs alike. With its rich narrative and evocative prose, ""Alide"" invites readers to embark on a journey of discovery, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of literary history, beautifully restored for the current and future generations. Dive into ""Alide"" and experience the magic that has captivated readers for over a century.

Meet Viva Cohen: her bedroom walls are plastered with posters of silver-screen legends, and underneath her school uniform she wears vintage thigh-high stockings. Her best friends are a drugged-out beauty queen and an aging rock star. She lives in London with her gay uncle Manny. A bitingly funny and fiercely intelligent first novel, "Namedropper" takes you on a rowdy romp from London to Los Angeles, where Viva and her two best friends search for love, experience, and Jack Nicholson. It's a wild ride as she uncovers the icon in every person she meets.

How is a woman in her thirties, HIV-positive and fresh out of rehab, supposed to find love and work in contemporary, urban America? Emily Carter's critically acclaimed debut traces Glory's journey from her addictions to heroin and alcohol in New York to her rebirth in Minnesota's recovery community. Glory Goes and Gets Some is a streetwise and sardonic look at sex, HIV, addiction, and recovery.

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE In the bustling streets of early 20th-century New York City, the stoop of a nondescript brownstone serves as the central stage for the intricate dramas and poignant narratives that unfold in Elmer Rice's seminal work, "Street Scene." Premiering in 1929 at the Playhouse Theatre in New York City, this evocative play offers a profound exploration of the human condition amidst the backdrop of a gritty urban landscape. At the heart of the narrative are the Maurrant family—Anna, Rose, and Frank—whose lives intertwine with those of their neighbors in profound and often tumultuous ways. Anna Maurrant, a woman grappling with issues of infidelity and disillusionment in her marriage, finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and desires. Her daughter, Rose, struggles to navigate the demands of her job and the oppressive presence of her father, Frank, whose domineering and sometimes abusive behavior casts a shadow over their household. Against this backdrop of familial strife, the character of Sam Kaplan emerges as a beacon of empathy and compassion. A Jewish neighbor deeply in love with Rose, Sam serves as both a confidant and a source of solace amidst the chaos of their urban existence. His unwavering devotion to Rose illuminates the complexities of love and longing in a world marked by social and economic divides. As the action unfolds entirely on the front stoop of the brownstone and in the adjacent streets, Rice skillfully captures the rhythm and pulse of city life, infusing each scene with a palpable sense of immediacy and authenticity. From the colorful array of neighbors and passersby to the bustling energy of the urban milieu, "Street Scene" paints a vivid portrait of a community teetering on the brink of despair yet resilient in the face of adversity. Recipient of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1929, "Street Scene" remains a timeless testament to the enduring power of theater to illuminate the complexities of the human experience. Through its rich tapestry of characters and its evocative portrayal of urban life, Rice's play invites audiences to reflect on themes of love, longing, and the indomitable spirit of the human soul against the backdrop of a mean quarter of New York City.

"In 1972, Elliot Mintz installed a red light in his bedroom in Laurel Canyon. When it started flashing, it meant that either John Lennon or Yoko Ono-or sometimes both-were calling him. Which they did almost every day for nearly ten years, engaging Mintz in hours-long late-night phone conversations that all but consumed him for the better part of a decade. In We All Shine On, Mintz-a former radio and television host in Los Angeles-recounts the story of how their unlikely friendship began and where it led him over the years, revealing the ups and downs of a wild, touching, heartbreaking, and sometimes shocking relationship. Mintz takes readers inside John and Yoko's inner sanctums, including their expansive seventh-floor apartment in New York's fabled Dakota building, where Mintz was something of a semipermanent fixture, ultimately becoming the Lennons' closest and most trusted confidant. Mintz was with John and Yoko through creative highs, relationship and private challenges, fascinating interactions with the other former Beatles, and the happiest moment of their lives together, the birth of their son, Sean. He was also by Yoko's side during the aftermath of John's assassination on the doorstep of the Dakota-not merely a witness to it all, but a key figure in the drama of John and Yoko's extraordinary lives. We All Shine On is a must-read for Beatles and Lennon fans, offering an up close and intimate view of one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century, as well as one of the most fascinating marriages. But it's also a relationship story that just about everyone can relate to, a tale about friendship, about the choices we make in life, and how much we sacrifice of ourselves for the ones we love most"--

The latest information, advice, and answers from one of the nation’s leading psychiatrists Children always suffer the most during a divorce, and parents don’t know what to say or do to help them. Drawn from more than twenty years of clinical and forensic experience, this invaluable manual gives answers to some of the most common questions on which divorced parents seek guidance, such as: Helping children adjust to separation and divorce Telling children about how the divorce will affect them Reassuring children that their parents will continue to love and care for them—and then just doing that Helping avoid many of the parenting pitfalls common after divorce Keeping the relationship between ex-spouses as free of conflict as possible Cooperating with ex-spouses on matters pertaining to the children Helping children feel good about themselves and grow as individuals

"I have been a character in academic fiction at least twice," Elaine Showalter writes, "once a voluptuous, promiscuous, drug-addicted bohemian, once a prudish, dumpy, judgmental frump. I hope I am not too easily identified in either of these guises . . . although I can tell you that I preferred being cast as the luscious Concord grape to my role as the withered prune." In the days before there were handbooks, self-help guides, or advice columns for graduate students and junior faculty, there were academic novels teaching us how a proper professor should speak, behave, dress, think, write, love, and (more than occasionally) solve murders. If many of these books are wildly funny, others paint pictures of failure and pain, of lives wasted or destroyed. Like the suburbs, Elaine Showalter notes, the campus can be the site of pastoral and refuge. But even ivory towers can be structurally unsound, or at least built with glass ceilings. Though we love to read about them, all is not well in the faculty towers, and the situation has been worsening. In Faculty Towers , Showalter takes a personal look at the ways novels about the academy have charted changes in the university and society since 1950. With her readings of C. P. Snow's idealized world of Cambridge dons, the globe-trotting antics of David Lodge's Morris Zapp, the sleuthing Kate Fansler in Amanda Cross's best-selling mystery series, or the recent spate of bitter novels in which narratives of sexual harassment seem to serve as fables of power, anger, and desire, Showalter holds a mirror up to the world she has inhabited over the course of a distinguished and often controversial career.

When asked to describe her short stories, Edith Pearlman replied that they are stories about people in peculiar circumstances aching to Do The Right Thing. She elaborated with the same wit and intimacy that make her stories a delight to read: “Before I was a writer I was a reader; and reading remains a necessary activity, occupying several joyous hours of every day. I like novels, essays, and biographies; but most of all I like the short story: narrative at its most confiding. “My own work, and particularly the stories in Vaquita , aims at a similar intimacy between writer and reader. My imagined reader wants to know who loves whom, who drinks what, and, mostly, who answers to what summons. Thank Heavens for Spike Lee! Before his movies writers and critics had to natter about moral stances; now I can say with a more tripping tongue that my characters are people in peculiar circumstances, aching to Do The Right Thing if only they can figure out what The Right Thing is. If not, they’ll at least Do Their Own Right Thing Right. “And I’m drawn to heat: sweltering Central American cities; a steamy soup kitchen; Jerusalem in midsummer; the rekindled passion of an old historian; the steady fire of terminal pain. I like solitaires, oddities, charlatans, and children. My characters are secretive; in almost every story somebody harbors a hidden love, dread, regret, or the memory of an insult awaiting revenge. “When I stop writing stories I plan to write letters, short and then shorter. My mother could put three sentences onto a postcard and make the recipient think he’d read a novel. I’m working towards a similar compression.”