A kaleidoscopic portrait of a modern American family—steadfast, complicated, begrudging, and loving—from the bestselling author of Isola Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a thirty-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way. When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives—divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals—their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible. With This Is Not About Us, master storyteller Allegra Goodman—whose prior collection was heralded as “one of the most astute and engaging books about American family life” ( The Boston Globe )—returns to the form and subject that endeared her to legions of readers. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters—a big-hearted book about the love that binds a family across generations.

"Cassie and Zoe Griffin were born just a year apart, but the sisters could not have been more different. Zoe, beautiful and charming, grew up with a burning desire for fame, making up for a lack of natural talent with hard work and determination. Cassie, though, had a gift. She was uncomfortable in her plus-sized body and preferred to be in the shadows, she was a musical prodigy. On the threshold of adulthood, the sisters are discovered by a record label and become the Griffin Sisters, a band that quickly skyrockets to fame, reaching the heights of pop stardom: MTV, VH1, the Billboard charts, and every marker of a dream come true. Cassie's musical gifts make her the voice of a generation and while the spotlight tests her spirit, it also opens her heart to possibilities for connection she has never considered. Zoe gets everything she thought she wanted: international fame and the paparazzi, the couture-and the man-that go with it. But twenty years later, everything has changed. Cassie lives in seclusion in Alaska. Zoe has abandoned her music dreams for suburban motherhood in New Jersey. The Griffin Sisters are long gone, and the devil's bargain of celebrity has exacted a high price that drives the sisters apart and nearly destroys them both. And yet Zoe's teenage daughter Cherry has inherited her family's talent and stage presence, and will stop at nothing to achieve the very dream of pop stardom her mother has warned her against-opening the wounds of their shared history in the process. Both sisters must face the consequences of choices from the past: the ones they made and the ones the music industry made for them. Can the mistakes of the past be redeemed, and can broken bonds be repaired? In this stirring and soul-bearing novel, Jennifer Weiner brings to life the heartache, joy, and glory of the glamorous but shattering Golden Age of pop music, and a celebrates the power of love and forgiveness, even after the music stops"--

In a society where lies are law, a simple act of honesty can become the ultimate rebellion. When does silent compliance with an oppressive regime become unbearable? For Charlie Simpkins, the manager of a small vegetable shop in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, part of the West Coast People's Democratic Republic, the breaking point comes when he is asked to display a meaningless propaganda poster in his shop window. It is a seemingly insignificant act in a lifetime of obedience. But Charlie just can't bring himself to doing it. This minor act of defiance, however, show too much independent thinking on Charlie's part, setting off a chain of escalating consequences for Charlie and his wife and two children. Powerless is a haunting dystopian tale of how even the smallest act of defiance can spiral into disaster in a society that demands total conformity. It serves as a chilling reminder of how easily standing up for one's principles can lead to crushing consequences, erringly echoing the challenges we face today for speaking our truth, even in societies that claim to uphold freedom. While the novel draws original inspiration from Alexander Dubček's 1968 vision of "socialism with a human face" in Czechoslovakia (the reformist movement sought to humanize authoritarian rule), it will resonate with many who fear that individual freedoms are under attack in many parts of the world. In Powerless, Charlie Simpkins' growing disillusionment mirrors the psychological toll experienced by many today as political stress and uncertainty become ever more pervasive. As Charlie seeks out others who share his dissatisfaction, his increasingly deliberate and risky actions symbolize the quiet acts of defiance that offer hope and resistance in a society where the powerful suppress dissent. Powerless serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences that can arise when standing up for one's principles in an environment that demands conformity.​

"Nicolas Fiorilla and his gang of children - his paranza - control the squares of Forcella after their rapid rise to power. But it isn't easy being at the top. Now that the Piranhas have power in the city, Nicolas must undermine the old families of the Camorra and remain united among themselves. Every paranzino has his own vendettas and dreams to pursue--dreams that might go beyond the laws of the gang. A new war may be about to break out in this city of cutthroat bargaining, ruthless betrayal, and brutal revenge. Saviano continues the story of the disillusioned boys of Forcella, the paranzini ready to give and receive kisses that leave a taste of blood."--Provided by publisher.

“An astounding achievement.” —Megha Majumdar * “Her best book yet.” —Paul Yoon Set in midcentury America, At Last explores a rich family saga centered on two fierce and competitive matriarchs whose intertwined lives reflect the complexities of family, tradition, and personal ambition. “Whole lives course down the decades, and every minute is conveyed with Silver’s signature combination of toughness and grace,” (Laird Hunt). Helene Simonauer and Evelyn Turner are two formidable women whose paths cross when their children marry. Both women are sharp, cunning, and unwavering in their conflicting beliefs about marriage, responsibility, and family and, most pressingly, their efforts to vie for the love of their shared granddaughter. At Last paints a vivid portrait of the American Midwest, capturing the essence of a time and place where societal norms and personal aspirations often clashed. Marisa Silver’s narrative weaves together the lives of Helene and Evelyn, from their vastly different childhoods through the pivotal events that define them. Both intimate and expansive, and capturing the complexities of ambition and love with humor and insight, At Last is a testament to what happens when an unintended, even unwanted relationship turns out to be a central one that defines a life.

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.

Critics in Britain are already raving about Charlotte Mendelson’s excoriatingly funny yet deeply humane novel about a glamorous London family that happens to be falling apart. The Rubins are the perfect family. They’re wonderfully happy and very glamorous. The mother, Claudia, is the ultimate Jewish a powerful rabbi known for her charm, brains, and determination. Now this dynastic Jewish family is getting ready to marry off the perfect eldest son. History, community, and even gastronomy unite the guests lucky enough to attend this joyous occasion. But when the groom -- one minute before exchanging vows -- bolts with the wrong woman, the myths that have defined this family take on darker overtones. Mendelson’s astonishing eye for detail, as well as her just-right balance of plot and character, makes the unfolding of this story an uncommon treat. In a marvelously compressed style that also bursts with life, she reveals how all four adult Rubin children, and their parents, struggle with huge secrets, sexual frustration and sexual experimentation, and many betrayals. Charlotte Mendelson opens a window on a realm rarely explored in British the complicated world of English Jewry. But to watch this seemingly blessed family drastically, disastrously fall apart before regaining balance is to understand that their struggles -- like all of ours -- are universal ones.

When any biological matter can be used to create life, stolen celebrity DNA sells to the highest bidder–or the craziest stalker–in this propulsive thriller. With a vivid imagining of the future, Gattaca meets Black Mirror in Kira Peikoff’s Baby X . In the near-future United States, where advanced technology can create egg or sperm from any person’s cells, celebrities face the alarming potential of meeting biological children they never conceived. Famous singer Trace Thorne is tired of being targeted by the Vault, a black market site devoted to stealing DNA. Sick of paying ransom money for his own cell matter, he hires bio-security guard Ember Ryan to ensure his biological safety. Ember will do anything she can to protect her clients. She knows all the Vault’s tricks–discarded tissues, used straws, lipstick tubes—and has prevented countless DNA thefts. Working for Thorne, her focus becomes split when she begins to fall for him, but she knows she hasn’t let anything slip–love or not, his DNA is safe. But then she and Thorne are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn, who claims that Thorne is the father of her baby, and all bets are off. Brilliantly plotted and terrifyingly prescient, Baby X is an unpredictable and relentless speculative thriller perfect for fans of Blake Crouch and John Marrs.

4-6

In the dead of night, Naomi Forman receives a phone call. Barney Harrigan, the man she once loved-now happily married with children-utters, "My wife Charlotte has been captured by the Glories." What began as a rude interruption of her night becomes a horrifying interruption of her life, as she is unable to ignore Barney's cry for help. Drawn into the Glory Church doomsday cult by her estranged sister, Charlotte Harrigan succumbs to the will of the enigmatic Father Glory. Brainwashed beyond comprehension, she is now not herself, but only one of many who have been entrapped by the cult's promise of rebirth into a new, idyllic life. Against her better judgment, Naomi agrees to help Barney confront the Glories and save Charlotte. But naive optimism quickly plummets to misery as their plans are systematically picked apart, dashed by members of the cult past and present, and even by the local Sheriff T. Clausen Moore, who is only as helpful as the Glories want him to be. His awareness of the Glory's practices and their secluded compound-including the river, where there has been more than one "accidental" drowning-is the one obstacle that he too must overcome to restore order to his county. No one is safe. Naomi's will is tested and Barney becomes more and more desperate. The lengths he is willing to go to save his wife are as sinister as the Glories themselves. From the Manson family to Scientology, cults have been fascinating, disturbing, and terrifying, from their induction methodologies to doomsday imperatives. The Glory Church of Warren Adler's vision is no different. Just look to the headlines. Their time will come.

As the owner of the upscale children's boutique Pretty Baby, Eleanor Sweet is surrounded by gleaming strollers, organic cotton onesies and round-bellied expectant mothers. It's a serene atmosphere of new beginnings but for the sounds of punk and funk coming from the graffiti-splattered new record shop next door and Eleanor's fierce desire for a baby of her own. Her wish for a child is finally granted in the form of Lily, an abandoned baby en route from Korea. But Eleanor's husband unexpectedly backs out, and the adoption is at risk. Orphaned as a young woman herself and determined to give Lily the family she deserves, Eleanor hires Isabelle, a search angel, to find her own birth mother. What Eleanor discovers about love and family isn't what she expects but gives a new understanding of what it means to be a mother. Praise for The Search Angel "In The Search Angel, Tish Cohen explores how the things one desires most are often linked inextricably to our pasts. Eleanor Sweet's pursuit of adoption and the search for her own birth parents is told with compassion, humour, and intelligence--all the ingredients you look for in the best of books." - Catherine McKenzie, author of Hidden "The Search Angel is not only beautifully written and populated with achingly real characters, it also strikes a delicate balance between incisive humour and the sadness and joy that are the inevitable by-product of love." - Susan Juby, author of The Woefield Poultry Collective "The Search Angel is a page-turner. I could not put it down, and those are the only clich's you will read with regards to this book. Eleanor, an adoptee in the process of getting her own child, a feisty "search angel" who helps find Eleanor find her birth mother and a depressed Great Dane are just some of the rich characters that you will be glad you invited into your home. A funny, sad, touching and original story that shouldn't be missed. Why are you wasting time reading this blurb? Read The Search Angel. You'll be glad you did." - Colin Mochrie, actor and comedian "Move over Jodi Picoult"--The Globe and Mail.

Myron Brinig's debut novel, Singermann, originally published in 1929, tells the story of a Jewish family, the Singermanns who immigrate to the mining city of (Silver Bow) Butte, Montana during the early heydays of the west. Follow Moses, his wife Rebecca, and their six children as they navigate the complexities of their rapidly changing world. From the eldest son's unexpected journey into Christian Science to the youngest's fascination with writing, each member of the Singermann clan embarks on a unique path that challenges the family's tightly held beliefs. Themes of the immigrant experience, religion, labor unrest, childhood, and homosexuality, are all told in an honest and captivating voice (the book is largely based on the author's own life). Singermann is groundbreaking and compelling and worthy of being available again!

Towards the end of 1937, having just completed his South American Amazonas trilogy (The Land without Death), Doblin embarked on a new project much closer to home. As a military doctor in Alsace he had experienced firsthand the chaotic scenes in Haguenau and Strasbourg that followed the Kaiser's abdication and the Armistice. His skill at depicting historical events in vivid epic prose would now be applied to seminal events still within living memory, and still highly controversial. He and his family (now with three small children) left Alsace on 14 November 1918 with the hospital staff and patients, reaching Berlin several days later. In March 1919 he witnessed the savage repression of the uprising in Lichtenberg, the eastern Berlin district where he had settled; his sister Meta was killed by grenade shrapnel as she fetched milk for her children. His essay On Cannibalism reveals his anger at both the ineptitude of the insurgents and the callousness of the Social Democrat Minister of War, Noske. Citizens and Soldiers, the self-contained first volume of November 1918: A German Revolution, presents a vivid panorama of fictional and real individuals, scenes and events over a chaotic two weeks. It was published in Amsterdam and Stockholm in October 1939, shortly after Britain and France declared war on Germany. Unsurprisingly it had little chance to circulate. During his exile years in California (1940-45), Doblin completed the remaining parts of what became the longest of his nine epic novels. When in 1947 the question arose of publishing the entire work in Germany, the French Occupation Authority (in which Doblin was serving as Public Education Officer) vetoed Citizens & Soldiers because of sensitivities about the status of Alsace-Lorraine, main location of the novel's action. (This border region had been French territory since the 17th century; was annexed by Germany in 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War, and reverted to France at the end of the First World War. Apart from the war years 1940-45 it has since remained French.) November 1918 A German Revolution therefore appeared as three volumes successively in autumn 1948, spring 1949 and spring 1950. This truncated edition was the basis for an incomplete English translation in the 1980s. In Germany, a complete edition appeared only in 1978, two decades after Doblin's death, enabling for the first time a proper evaluation of what is now seen as one of Doblin's most impressive achievements. It is high time that English readers too should have access to the missing first volume: Citizens & Soldiers.

It's about these 6 friends in college CJ, Dashawn, Marcus, Vanessa, BB, Jasmine. They go through ups and downs. A lot go on while in college. It's not easy but with love, friendship, life, growth and hardship. This will want you to read because this is a great story about how 6 friends in college can make it. Can strive. Learn to love l, fight, make up and always be there for each other hope you like this story. This how it go CJ and BB are step brother and sister, Dashawn and Vanessa are brother and sister Vanessa is dating CJ and Marcus and Jasmine are not related to anyone or is dating no one but that is what the story is about.

The early 1800's. Jesse Constam, a highly respected spice merchant, lives in fashionable Gower Street. Saved from poverty himself, he rescues two children from the gutter. Jesse's intervention changes their lives forever. The fate of Abel Lackland and Lilith Lucas and their families become inextricably entwined as they are destined for the vastly different worlds of medicine and the theatre.