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Introduction
My birthday was at the beginning of May and I can’t wait to show you all of the books, puzzles, and movies I was blessed with. Getting books from the library was my favorite because it was something I hadn’t done in a long time. I copied the descriptions of the books so you can know more about each one. Happy Reading!
Library Books I Borrowed
Strange Planet by Nathan W Pyle
About the Book:
WATCH THE ANIMATED SERIES AUGUST 9 ON APPLE TV+
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER FOR HUMOR
Straight from the mind of #1 New York Times bestselling author of NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette and 99 Stories I Could Tell Nathan W. Pyle, Strange Planet is an adorable and profound universe in pink, blue, green, and purple, based on the phenomenally popular Instagram of the same name!
Strange Planet covers a full life cycle of the planet’s inhabitants, including milestones such as:
The Emergence Day
Being Gains a Sibling
The Being Family Attains a Beast
The Formal Education of a Being
Celebration of Special Days
Being Begins a Vocation
The Beings at Home
Health Status of a Being
The Hobbies of a Being
The Extended Family of the Being
The Being Reflects on Life While Watching the Planet Rotate
With dozens of never-before-seen illustrations in addition to old favorites, this book offers a sweet and hilarious look at a distant world not all that unlike our own.
I feel more attractive.
Honestly, you are.
It’s the star damage.
I CRAVE STAR DAMAGE.
Larry in Wonderland: A Pearls Before Swine Collection (Volume 16) by Stephan Pastis
About the Book:
One of the best-selling cartoons today. Offering blistering commentary on hot-button topics related to recent news events, popular culture, cartoon-page contemporaries, and more, Pearls Before Swine expertly illustrates the flaws and shortcomings of human nature through Pastis’s mindful menagerie of fiery and feisty characters.
Stephan Pastis offers Pearls Before Swine fans a visit to the other side of the looking glass with his latest collection, Larry in Wonderland. Collecting almost a year’s worth of strips, Larry in Wonderland offers cutting-edge commentary on recent news events, popular culture, and cartoon-page contemporaries, and imparts the knowledge that in Wonderland, crocodiles taste a lot like chicken.
Through Pastis’s mindful menagerie of characters, including the Mad Ducker, Cheshire Snuffles, Tweedledum Pig, and Tweedledee Idiot Pig, along with Raterpillar, Zebra, and Larry the Croc, Pearls Before Swine expertly illustrates the flaws and shortcomings of human nature, while remaining “indifferent” to conventional cartoon molds such as plotline “continuity.” In the words of Raterpillar, “Plotline schmotline.”
With multiple honors as Best Comic Strip of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society, and an international fan base that follows the strip’s appearance in more than 600 newspapers worldwide, Pearls Before Swine transports readers to a world of shifting perspectives and alternate realities, like the one presented inside Larry in Wonderland.
Go to Sleep (I Miss You): Cartoons From the Fog of New Parenthood by Lucy Knisley
About the Book:
Lucy Knisley is one of the great memoirists of the graphic novel format. Following the completion of her pregnancy memoir Kid Gloves (and the birth of her baby), Lucy embarked on a new project: documenting new motherhood in short, spontaneous little cartoons, which she posted on her Instagram, and which quickly gained her a huge cult following among other moms.
The best of those wildly popular little cartoons are collected in this adorable gift book, Go to Sleep (I Miss You), a perfect read for expecting parents, new parents, and anyone who loves funny, relatable comics storytelling.
About the Book:
This is a treatise on what makes art art, told in graphic novel form.
What is “Art”? It’s widely accepted that art serves an important function in society. But the concept falls under such an absurdly large umbrella and can manifest in so many different ways. Art can be self indulgent, goofy, serious, altruistic, evil, or expressive, or any number of other things. But how can it truly make lasting, positive change? In Why Art?, acclaimed graphic novelist Eleanor Davis (How To Be Happy) unpacks some of these concepts in ways both critical and positive, in an attempt to illuminate the highest possible potential an artwork might hope to achieve. A work of art unto itself, Davis leavens her exploration with a sense of humor and a thirst for challenging preconceptions of art worth of Magritte, instantly drawing the reader in as a willing accomplice in her quest. Black & white illustrations throughout.
Menopause: A Comic Treatment (Graphic Medicine) by MK Czerwiec
About the Book:
Like so many other issues surrounding women’s reproductive health, menopause has been treated as a cultural taboo. On the rare occasions that menopausal and perimenopausal women are depicted in popular culture, they are stereotypically cast as the butt of demeaning jokes that encourage us to laugh at their deteriorating bodies and emotional volatility. The result is that women facing menopause often feel isolated and ashamed. In a spirit of community and support, this collection of comics presents a different view of menopause that enables those experiencing it to be seen and to feel empowered.
Balancing levity with sincerity, these comics unapologetically depict menopause and all its attendant symptoms, from hot flashes and vaginal dryness to forgetfulness, social stigma, anxiety, and shame. Created from a variety of perspectives, they represent a range of life experiences, ages, gender identities, ethnicities, and health conditions. The common thread uniting these stories is the affirmation that, while we can and should laugh at ourselves, no one should be ashamed of menopause. The comics in this book encourage us to share our experiences and to support one another, and ourselves, through self-care and community.
Featuring works by a host of pioneering and up-and-coming comics artists, Menopause is a perfect foil to the simplistic, cheap-joke approach society at large has taken to this much-derided women’s health issue. Readers will revel in the sly humor and universal truths found here.
The contributors include Lynda Barry, Maureen Burdock, Jennifer Camper, KC Councilor, MK Czerwiec, Leslie Ewing, Joyce Farmer, Ellen Forney, Ann M. Fox, Keet Geniza, Roberta Gregory, Teva Harrison, Rachael House, Leah Jones, Monica Lalanda, Cathy Leamy, Ajuan Mance, Jessica Moran, Mimi Pond, Sharon Rosenzweig, Joyce Schachter, Susan Merrill Squier, Emily Steinberg, Nicola Streeten, A. K. Summers, Kimiko Tobimatsu, Carol Tyler, Shelley L. Wall, and Dana Walrath.
The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy by Michael F. Patton, Kevin Cannon
About the Book:
The most entertaining and engaging philosophy class you’ll ever take!
In The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy, Michael F. Patton and Kevin Cannon introduce us to the grand tradition of examined living. With the wisecracking Heraclitus as our guide, we travel down the winding river of philosophy, meeting influential thinkers from nearly three millennia of Western thought and witnessing great debates over everything from ethics to the concept of the self to the nature of reality.
Combining Cannon’s playful artistry and Patton’s humorous, instructive prose, The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy puts the fun back into the quest for fundamental truths, imparting a love of wisdom to anyone willing to grab a paddle and join the ride.
Library Book Sale (Books and Movies)
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Printing by Western Printing and Lithographing Company
About the Book:
Alice in Wonderland is an 1865 novel by English author Lewis Carroll. It tells of a young girl named Alice, who falls through a rabbit hole into a subterranean fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children.
One of the best-known and most popular works of English-language fiction, its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. The work has never been out of print and has been translated into at least 97 languages. Its ongoing legacy encompasses many adaptations for stage, screen, radio, art, ballet, theme parks, board games and video games.
The Comic Book Bible by Rob Suggs
About the Book:
Visualize the Bible!
Hey, kids—get a new perspective on scripture with The Comic Book Bible, a colorfully-illustrated, cartoon treatment of the most important book of all.
For the past 15 years, The Comic Book Bible has entertained and educated tens of thousands of 8–12 year olds.
Now, it’s available in a brand-new edition! Highlighting more than five dozen stories and sections from the entire Bible—Genesis through Revelation—The Comic Book Bible features fun artwork and age-appropriate text, along with a relevant scripture verse on every page.
Get into the Bible with The Comic Book Bible!
A Night Without Armor by Jewel
About the Book:
One of the most respected artists in popular music today, Jewel is much more than a music industry success with her debut album selling more than 10 million copies.
Before her gifted songwriting comes an even more individual art: Poetry.
Now available in paperback, A Night without Armor highlights the poetry of Jewel taken from her journals which are both intimate and inspiring, to be embraced and enjoyed.
Writing poems and keeping journals since childhood, Jewel has been searching for truth and meaning, turning to her words to record, to discover, and to reflect.
In A Night Without Armor, her first collection of poetry, Jewel explores the fire of first love, the lessons of betrayal, and the healing of intimacy. She delves into matters of the home, the comfort of family, the beauty of Alaska, and the dislocation of divorce.
Frank and honest, serious and suddenly playful, A Night Without Armor is a talented artist’s intimate portrait of what makes us uniquely human.
My Last Love Story by Falguni Kothari
About the Book:
“Promise me you will laugh every day. Fight every day. Do you know how beautiful you look when you’re angry? Promise me you’ll learn to cuss, learn to love again. Live again. Promise me you won’t give up on each other.”
Simi Desai is thirty years old and her husband is dying of cancer. He has two last wishes in his final months: first, that she’ll have his baby so that a piece of him lives on, and second, that she’ll reconcile with her old flame, who just happens to be their mutual best friend. And so over the course of their last summer together, Simi’s husband plans a series of big and small adventures for this unlikely trio, designed to help them say goodbye to each other and prove to Simi that it’s okay to move on without him—and even find love again.
Beautiful and poignant, Falguni Kothari’s My Last Love Story will pull your heartstrings as only unforgettable love stories can.
Dancing with Mrs. Dalloway by Celia Blue Johnson
About the Book:
Every great book begins with an idea, whether it comes to a writer’s mind with lightning speed or tugs at the imagination over time. Dancing with Mrs. Dalloway offers stories of the inspiration behind fifty classic works, from The Sound and the Fury, Jane Eyre, and Frankenstein to Anna Karenina, The Bell Jar, and Winnie-the-Pooh. Gabriel García Márquez was driving to Acapulco with his family when he slammed on the brakes, turned the car around, and insisted they abandon their trip so he could return home to write. He had good reason to cut the trip short-a childhood memory of touching ice had suddenly sparked the first line to a novel that would become his most famous work, One Hundred Years of Solitude. C. S. Lewis, on the other hand, spent decades pondering the scene that inspired The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When Lewis was sixteen, he had a peculiar daydream: a faun carried a bundle of parcels and an umbrella through snow-covered woods. Lewis was almost forty when he decided to write a novel that grew around the vision. In Dancing with Mrs. Dalloway, you’ll discover who Edgar Allan Poe’s raven really belonged to, whether Jane Austen’s heartthrob Mr. Darcy actually existed, who got into mischief with a young Mark Twain, and what the real Sherlock Holmes did for a living. These delightful stories reveal the often unknown reasons our literary heroes put quill to parchment, pen to paper, or finger to keyboard to write some of the world’s best-loved books.
The Director’s Cut by Janice Thompson
About the Book:
Tia Morales is used to calling the shots. She’s the director of the popular sitcom Stars Collide, and her life on set is calculated and orderly. Well, most of the time. But her life outside the studio is another matter. If only she could get her family to behave as well as her stars do! When she starts butting heads with handsome camera operator Jason Harris, it’s enough to send a girl over the edge. Will she ever learn to let go and take life–and love–as it comes?Full of the humor and crazy family dynamics Janice Thompson fans have come to love, this colorful story gives readers an inside look at Hollywood and a healthy dose of romance.
About the Book:
Michael Terny is at his seventh school in four years and he knows that whatever he does, he will be ridiculed and pushed around. Michael is the fat kid. But Michael is also a lucid dreamer–he can recognize when he is dreaming and make the dream unfold exactly as he wants. Here he is safe and completely in control. Safe that is, until he finds the dream world and real world colliding . . . and a passage between the two promises more power than he has ever imagined. With the help of an unexpected friend at his new school, Michael plans how to use his power–to reward the good and wreak vengeance on the wicked. . . . But is Michael really in control? Nothing is quite as it seems in this book, and the shocking ending will have readers furiously flipping back to begin reading again with opened eyes.
Lynelle by the Sea by Laurie Lico Albanese
About the Book:
A woman seeking solace after the sudden death of her child flees her marriage for Florida where, in her grief, she will walk off with another woman’s infant son.
Ghost Writer by Rene Gutteridge
About the Book:
A man who has become estranged from his faith begins to question his life when he comes into possession of an anonymous manuscript entitle “The Story of My Life.
What a Nightmare Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz
About the Book:
In a fearsome nightmare, Snoopy imagines he is a poorly qualified sled dog in the Far North, struggling to survive in the inhospitable, uncomfortable wilds
The Story of Ruth and Naomi by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
About the Book:
Bible story book about the lives and relationship of Ruth and Naomi.
The Story of Easter by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of Isaac and Rebekah by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of Samson by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of Creation by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of The Good Samaritan by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of Jesus and His Disciples by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Lord’s Prayer by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
About the Book:
“The Lord’s Prayer” is a great illustrated book for children to learn to understand why people pray, how to pray, and what can happen when you pray.
The Story of Exodus by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of Paul by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
Prayers and Graces by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
The Story of Jonah by Alice Joyce Davidson and Illustrated by Victoria Marshall
About the Book:
Alice walks through the giant magic screen into Bibleland and comes upon the scene of Jonah and the whale. The old Bible story is told with grace and charm and is lovingly illustrated by Victoria Marshall.
The Librarian of Boone’s Hollow by Kim Vogel Sawyer
About the Book:
A traveling librarian ventures into the mining towns of Kentucky on horseback—and learns to trust the One who truly pens her story—in this powerful novel from the best-selling author of A Silken Thread.
During the Great Depression, city-dweller Addie Cowherd dreams of becoming a novelist and offering readers the escape that books had given her during her tragic childhood. When her father loses his job, she is forced to take the only employment she can find—delivering books on horseback to poor coal-mining families in the hills of Kentucky.
But turning a new page will be nearly impossible in Boone’s Hollow, where residents are steeped in superstitions and deeply suspicious of outsiders. Even local Emmett Tharp feels the sting of rejection after returning to the tiny mountain hamlet as the first in his family to graduate college. And as the crippled economy leaves many men jobless, he fears his degree won’t be worth much in a place where most men either work the coal mine or run moonshine.
As Addie also struggles to find her place, she’ll unearth the truth about a decades-old rivalry. But when someone sets out to sabotage the town’s library program, will the culprit chase Addie away or straight into the arms of the only person who can help her put a broken community back together?
Everyday Happiness: 365 Ways to a Joyful Life by Contributing Editor Emma Hill
About the Book:
A page a day to keep unhappiness at bay.
Researchers agree that happiness is a choice. It is something that comes from within, and you can strive to achieve happiness regardless of your circumstances. To some people that can appear a tall order but the premise of Everyday Happiness is that it takes only one small action every day to build happiness.
The start of a new year is a great time for new beginnings. Everyday Happiness is the perfect guide. On January 1, the reader makes a gratitude jar into which go notes about good things that happen throughout the year.
Each daily page features either an inspirational quote or an exercise, like try something new, take a plant to work, compliment someone, or embrace a color. On December 31, the jar is emptied and reread, bringing a new perspective, reminders of happy times, and hope for the new year. Like its companion title, Everyday Courage, Everyday Happiness is ready to use.
This little but substantial book is the perfect boost for anyone feeling a bit hard done by in the hustle and bustle of daily life.
About the Book:
A New York Times Editors Choice
Longlisted for the 2020 Simpson / Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize
One of Vogue.com’s “Best Books of 2020 So Far”
One of Elle’s “Best Books of 2020 So Far”
Named A Most-Anticipated Book by The New York Times, Vogue, The Boston Globe, Salon,
The Millions, Inside Hook, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn
In 1996, the unnamed narrator of Teddy Wayne’s Apartment is attending the MFA writing program at Columbia on his father’s dime and living in an illegal sublet of a rent-stabilized apartment. Feeling guilty about his good fortune, he offers his spare bedroom–rent-free–to Billy, a talented, charismatic classmate from the Midwest eking out a hand-to-mouth existence in Manhattan.
The narrator’s rapport with Billy develops into the friendship he’s never had due to a lifetime of holding people at arm’s length, hovering at the periphery, feeling “fundamentally defective.” But their living arrangement, not to mention their radically different upbringings, breeds tensions neither man could predict. Interrogating the origins of our contemporary political divide and its ties to masculinity and class, Apartment is a gutting portrait of one of New York’s many lost, disconnected souls by a writer with an uncommon aptitude for embodying them.
The Art of Creative Living by Thomas Kinkade
About the Book:
America’s most collected living artist reveals how the creative process can provide a path to greater awareness.
About the Book:
The very first, classic Paddington picture book, with updated art from the original artist.
Nearly fifty years ago, a small bear from Darkest Peru set out on an adventure of a lifetime. With nothing but a suitcase, several jars of marmalade, and a label around his neck that read, “Please Look After This Bear,” he stowed away on a ship headed for faraway England. When the little bear arrived at London’s busy Paddington Station, he was discovered by Mr. and Mrs. Brown. As luck would have it, the Browns were just the sort of people to welcome a lost bear into their family.
Paddington Bear has charmed readers worldwide with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures. This reissue of the classic story, with new artwork by original artist R. W. Alley, will surely let a whole new generation of children find a home in their hearts for this lovable lost bear.
Teach Yourself Visually Crochet by Cecily Keim and Kim P. Werker
About the Book:
The visual way to get hooked on crochet
The art of crocheting is timeless-and its popularity is evident in the surge of modern, sophisticated techniques like amigurumi and Tunisian crochet. So if you yearn for the skills to join this crafting revolution, this easy-to-follow guide is for you!
With new patterns and even more techniques explained step by step, this updated edition is your go-to guide for learning how to crochet.
- Concise, two-page lessons show you all the steps to a skill and are ideal for quick review
- Detailed color photos demonstrate each step and helpful tips provide additional guidance
- New patterns, more techniques, and refreshed interior design
Packed with tons of step-by-step instructions and fun, innovative patterns, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crochet, 2nd Edition, gives you the tools you need to create one-of-a-kind crochet projects that will add handmade flair to your home and wardrobe.
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and Illustrated by Greg Hildebrant
About the Book:
After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas
Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grim and Pictures by Bernadette
About the Book:
This beautiful edition of the classic tale is illustrated by one of Europe’s most recognized and beloved fairy-tale artists, Bernadette Watts, known in Europe simply as Bernadette. “The old is new again here, and this is a welcome addition to the fairy-tale shelf.”— Kirkus Reviews*
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Ottenheimer Publishers Inc
About the Book:
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice falling through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures. The tale plays with logic, giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been enormously influential in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre.
Babes in Toyland by Retold and Illustrated by Toby Bluth
About the Book:
Tom rescues Alan and Jane, who were sold to the gypsies, and saves Toyland itself from the monsters created by Mr. Barnaby, the children’s evil guardian
About the Book:
The New York Times bestselling sequel to Wither reveals a world as captivating—and as treacherous—as the one Rhine left behind.
Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but they’re still in danger. Outside, they find a world even more disquieting than the one they ran away from. Determined to get to Manhattan and find Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan, the two press forward, amid threats of being captured again…or worse.
The road they are on is long and perilous—and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and men die at age twenty-five, time is precious. In this sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price—now that she has more to lose than ever.
The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater That Grandma Knit by Debbie Macomber and Mary Lou Carney
About the Book:
Cameron loves his grandmother. She knows just what makes him tick. That’s why he can’t figure out why Grandma would send him a sweater—a truly terribly horrible sweater—for his birthday.
Cameron pours mustard on his sweater. He puts it on his dog (in the rain). He even tries to send it to the thrift shop. But nothing works.
Now Grandma is coming for the holidays, and Cameron has to wear her gift to him. But what’s he going to say when she asks what he thinks about the sweater she made?
With a sure hand and a light touch, worldwide bestseller Debbie Macomber and her new writing partner, Mary Lou Carney, reveal that what Grandma knit into Cameron’s sweater is the greatest gift of all.
Debbie and Mary Lou have included simple knitting instructions and an original knitting pattern for Cameron’s sweater. You can find them at the back of this book.
The London Train by Tessa Hadley
About the Book:
In this New York Times Notable Book from one of today’s most acclaimed writers, two lives stretched between two cities converge in a chance meeting that will irrevocably change their lives.
“Hadley is a supremely perceptive writer of formidable skill and intelligence, someone who goes well beyond surfaces.”—New York Times Book Review
Unsettled by the recent death of his mother, Paul sets out in search of Pia, his daughter from his first marriage, who has disappeared into the labyrinth of London. Discovering her pregnant and living illegally in a run-down council flat with a pair of Polish siblings, Paul is entranced by Pia’s excitement at living on the edge. Abandoning his second wife and their children in Wales, he joins her to begin a new life in the heart of London.
Cora, meanwhile, is running in the opposite direction, back to Cardiff, to the house she has inherited from her parents. She is escaping her marriage, and the constrictions and disappointments of her life in London. But there is a deeper reason why she cannot stay with her decent Civil Service husband; the aftershocks of which she hasn’t fully come to terms with herself.
Connecting both stories is the London train, and a chance meeting that will have immediate and far-reaching consequences for both Paul and Cora.
Good Books, Good Times by Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Pictures by Harvey Stevenson
About the Book:
Lee Bennet Hopkins, noted anthologist and educator, has collected a group of witty and whimsical poems that celebrate the joy of reading. Karla Kuskin, Jack Prelutsky, and Arnold Lobel are just a few of the acclaimed children’s book authors whose poems are joined into this delightful ode to the world of words. Wonderfully wacky illustrations by Harvey Stevenson help make this a rollicking good book–and a rollicking good time.
Disability Visibility by Edited by Alice Wong
About the Book:
“Disability rights activist Alice Wong brings tough conversations to the forefront of society with this anthology. It sheds light on the experience of life as an individual with disabilities, as told by none other than authors with these life experiences. It’s an eye-opening collection that readers will revisit time and time again.” —Chicago Tribune
One in five people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less apparent—but all are underrepresented in media and popular culture. Activist Alice Wong brings together this urgent, galvanizing collection of contemporary essays by disabled people, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
From Harriet McBryde Johnson’s account of her debate with Peter Singer over her own personhood to original pieces by authors like Keah Brown and Haben Girma; from blog posts, manifestos, and eulogies to Congressional testimonies, and beyond: this anthology gives a glimpse into the rich complexity of the disabled experience, highlighting the passions, talents, and everyday lives of this community. It invites readers to question their own understandings. It celebrates and documents disability culture in the now. It looks to the future and the past with hope and love.
1985 Stories From SOS by E. C. Myers
About the Book:
1985: Stori3s from SOS is a collection of three novellas that serve as a wonderful expansion to the SOS world for new readers and the most rabid fan. These three novellas are yet another puzzle piece in the heart-pounding world filled with shadowy conspiracies and bold hacktivists.
The first story in the collection, “S.O.S.,” is a prequel to the first novel, The Silence of Six, that chronicles Evan Baxter’s frantic final twenty-four hours leading to his shocking decision that sets the stage for the series. “Doublethink” connects the dots between The Silence of Six and its sequel, Against All Silence, by letting us inside the head of teenage hacktivist Penny Polonsky. Penny faces a mysterious new challenge that could change her life―and potentially the internet―forever. And “1985,” the final story in the collection, takes us back to the early activist days of Max Stein’s parents when they were teenagers living in New York City in the mid-1980s. When they meet at a political protest in New York City, Bradley and Lianna Stein hatch a risky plan to expose unethical practices at Bradley’s university and begin to fall in love.
These three stories offer readers a chance to dive deeper into the SOS series and to get to know some of the most intriguing characters from the award-winning first two novels.
The Brave Little Toaster Movie
About the Movie:
THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER is the award-winning animated tale of friendship, loyalty, and courage that has become a huge favorite with young and old alike! Five electrical appliances suddenly feel dumped when their young master mysteriously disappears! The dejected toaster rounds up the vacuum cleaner, electric blanket, and bedside lamp and radio, and together, they set off for the big city in search of their beloved owner! Featuring the voices of “Saturday Night Live’s” Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz, and catchy original songs — you’re on the high road to a humorous and heartwarming adventure you’ll never forget.|A fantasy about five aging appliances who come to life and go in search of their missing master, from the novella by Thomas M. Disch.
Van Gogh Movie by BBC Video
About the Movie:
Van Gogh traveled to Paris and then to England to be an art dealer. He fell in love, got rejected, lost his job, became a missionary in a coal mine, got fired, fell in love again, got rejected, took up with a prostitute, painted 800 pictures, went mad in Provence, cut off his ear, spent a year in a mental institute and committed suicide at the age of 37. He only sold one painting while alive. This award-winning film paints a kaleidoscopic, impressionistic picture of the life and loves of the acclaimed artist Vincent Van Gogh; starring Golden Globe(R) winner Linus Roache (RFK) as the eccentric, tormented genius.
BBC The Chronicles of Narnia (Included Movies The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair) by BBC
About the Movie:
C.S. Lewis’s enchanting tale comes to life in this classic BBC adaptation from 1988. When young Second World War evacuee Lucy Pevensie hides in an old wardrobe during a game of hide and seek, she finds herself transported to the magical land of Narnia, locked in eternal winter by the evil White Witch. Her siblings do not believe her when she tells them of this strange new world, but they are soon in Narnia themselves, fighting alongside the noble lion Aslan to defeat the witch and her mighty army. This set includes the following complete stories from the book series: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair.
Amazon Books (Physical)
Healing Through Words by Rupi Kaur
About the Book:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Rupi Kaur presents guided poetry writing exercises of her own design to help you explore themes of trauma, loss, heartache, love, family, healing, and celebration of the self.
Healing Through Words is a guided tour on the journey back to the self, a cathartic and mindful exploration through writing.
This carefully curated collection of exercises asks only that you be vulnerable and honest, both with yourself and the page.
You don’t need to be a writer to take this walk; you just need to write—that’s all.
Amazon Books (Ebooks)
About the Book:
Making music is hard, no matter your experience level. We all struggle with writer’s block, finding inspiration, and developing ideas. We need to create workflows and habits so we can move forward with our songwriting and music production even when the inevitable challenges present themselves.
The 5-Minute Music Producer contains 365, 5-minute activities designed to jumpstart inspiration, find new ideas, and develop workflows the professionals rely on.
It’s like having your own music production and songwriting personal trainer pushing you to do your best every day.
The activities contain practical ways to build inspiration, come up with new ideas, and create workflows that help you create and finish new music. Each exercise is followed by a philosophical takeaway to help build a productive mindset to conquer the unending mental and creative challenges all songwriters and music producers face.
The Daily Activities will help you…
- Make more music.
- Write better lyrics.
- Develop solid workflows.
- Learn techniques for generating ideas.
- Build systems and habits to fight writer’s block.
- Get you moving when you are stuck.
- Rely on processes that lead to inspiration.
- Use songs you love to make your own great songs.
- Develop your loops into full arrangements.
- Adopt the work habits of music-making professionals.
Build a Music Making Routine and Discipline
Professional music producers don’t wait for inspiration to strike; they have systems and workflows in place that generate inspiration. They don’t wait until it “feels right.” They keep their ideas handy and have a systemized process for their craft.
The 5 Minute Music Producer will teach you how to develop and organize systems for your making-music craft.
Become a Better Music Producer Through Consistency.
By putting in a little focused work each day, your ideas will bloom into songs, and your songs will bloom into albums and EPs.
Can I Really Become a Better Music Producer in 5 Minutes a Day?
5 minutes is a small enough commitment that it’s hard to come up with excuses not to do it. Additionally, there will be plenty of days when the 5-minute exercises get you so inspired and excited that you will keep going! The more you do something the better you will get at it.
The secret to growth is consistency. The 5-Minute Music Producer gives you an entire year of activities and lessons to ensure you stay persistent in the pursuit of your music-making dreams.
The Techniques in this book have been tested and work!
I’ve been playing and producing music for over 25 years. My experience ranges from playing in bands and solo performances to producing music for myself, my bands, and other artists. I’ve taught countless students privately, online, and in my Berklee Online courses. The exercises and lessons from this book come from my own experiences as an artist and Ableton Certified Trainer, as well as from hundreds of interviews and discussions I’ve had with industry professionals hosting the Music Production Podcast.
Make Today the Day You Start Making Music Like a Professional!
Imagine how much further along you will be after one year of focused exercises to improve your skills and workflows. The sooner you start, the sooner you will reach your goals.
The 5-Minute Music Producer teaches you to:
- Enhance your creativity.
- Write lyrics for maximum emotional impact.
- Store your ideas for when inspiration is low.
- Recognize the elements that make songs great.
- Develop your own unique musical personality.
- Defeat Writer’s Block.
Start honing your craft today so you can realize your dreams tomorrow.
Beauty and Her Beast: Contemporary Bodyguard Romance Novel by L.P. Guleva
About the Book:
Dan “Mince” Mincini knows love isn’t for him, but can he resist the wounded beauty in need of his protection?
Dan:
I’m used to women flinching when they see my scarred face. When I open the door for Ljuba, I’m ready for it, but instead of fear or disgust, her eyes are filled with trust, like I’m her safe harbor in a sea full of sharks.
When I notice the bags under her eyes, Ljuba admits to having nightmares. She won’t tell me who haunts her dreams, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll guard her all night long if I have to.
Then, I learn about the anonymous calls and appoint myself as her personal bodyguard.
I’d take a bullet to protect this beauty, as long as she kisses the pain away.
Ljuba:
I had a handle on my nightmares until the calls started. Now, I can’t sleep. Desperate to get away from it all, I decide to stay with my friend in a well-guarded house with personal security.
The moment I see Dan, I know he’s safe. He knows what flavor of food the stray kitten prefers, for crying out loud. He could never turn into a monster. Unlike some people I know.
The more time we spend together, the more secrets I spill. Instead of judging me, Dan showers me with gifts–a bracelet of his own making here, a trip to the book village there.
I spent my life living in the past, wondering what my life would’ve been like if everything hadn’t fallen apart. With Dan’s arms around me, I want to live in the here and now.
But my past is knocking, and I’m not sure Dan can save me this time.
Assigned A Mate by Grace Goodwin
About the Book:
INTERSTELLAR BRIDES PROGRAM: BOOK 1
When a potential threat against her life forces Eva Daily to seek shelter on another world, she has only one option available to her. She must offer herself to the Interstellar Bride Program. After a deeply humiliating assessment of her suitability, Eva will be assigned a mate and transported to his world to become his bride.
Upon arriving on the desert planet Trion, Eva soon learns that things are quite different than she is used to on Earth. Her assigned mate, the powerful, handsome High Councilor Tark, makes it clear that she will be expected to submit to him completely, and she quickly discovers that disobedience will earn her a painful, embarrassing spanking on her bare bottom.
An intimate examination from her new mate leaves Eva blushing crimson, but to her surprise Tark’s mastery of her body arouses her beyond anything she could have ever imagined. Soon enough she finds herself naked, bound, and unable to resist the urge to beg for more as his skillful lovemaking brings her to one shattering climax after another.
It doesn’t take long, however, for Eva to realize that there is much more to Tark than just a dominant brute who will not hesitate to take his misbehaving wife over his knee and redden her bare bottom thoroughly. But just as her passion for him begins to blossom into love, events back on Earth threaten to tear her away from him forever. Can Eva find a way to remain at Tark’s side and in his bed, or will she be left with nothing but memories of the man who has claimed both her body and her heart?
About the Book:
A tyrant boss.
A secret safe house.
And only the sounds of our pleasure… to pass the time…
In my opinion, starting a new career as a financial executive is not all it’s cracked up to be, especially when my boss is a tyrant and a grumpy boss. My gut feelings tell me that enough is enough and I need to leave this job.
Matthew Cohen used to be an old friend. He is mature, good-looking, with chiseled abs, and my CEO. He was the fun, carefree type. Now his life has changed him into a grump and a tyrant. To pass the time during boring meetings, I fantasize about unwrapping his large package locked away inside his pants.
Natalie says I don’t respect her and my management style is cruel. She is trying to find the old Matthew she used to know, but I am a CEO now and that old Matthew is gone. Yet, there are days when I miss my carefree self.
Before I can quit, an alarm goes off.
Matthew and I end up in his underground secret safe house.
We cannot leave and our situation creates some delicious job perks (between the sheets).
Book One in the Secrets Series.
Enemies to Lovers Adult Romance.
This enemies-to-lovers romance is book one in the Secrets series. No cheating, no cliffhanger. Guaranteed HEA.
The Tyrant’s Secret Cabin: Enemies to Lovers Romance (Secrets Book 2) by Rachel K Stone
About the Book:
A crazed billionaire.
A cabin in the woods.
And no one to hear my screams…of desire.
When I took a long-awaited vacation from crunching numbers for big business, I didn’t know I would be tricked into staying at a billionaire CEO’s private cabin in the woods.
With his chiseled muscles and deep blue eyes, David Stratford is…overqualified in every way. But his company is failing, and David believes I have the solution to turn his fortunes around. When he broke into my cabin, I didn’t give him what he wanted. I’m not a corporate spy.
But he won’t take no for an answer.
Now David has me locked in a room with only one way out: I need to submit to his demands. And the longer I am his captive, the more desperate I am for my primal urges to be quenched.
In a depraved way, David thinks he has the upper hand. He is mistaken.
He’s in for a long, hard ride.
One that he will never forget.
This is book two in the Secrets Series.
Enemies to Lovers Adult Romance
These enemies to lovers confront their passions in this forced proximity steamy romance. The Tyrant’s Secret Cabin is a push-and-pull between a billionaire alpha male and a sassy female. No cheating, no cliffhanger, guaranteed HEA.
About the Book:
Bound by forbidden love and entangled in perilous secrets, these fated mates discover the depths a wolf is willing to go to preserve their unbreakable bonds.
Alpha Wolf’s Fated Mate
When the wolves cry for her blood, she discovers that her fierce Alpha mate is the only one who can shield her from the looming darkness, risking it all to defy their enemies and protect their love at any cost.
Alpha Wolf’s Secret Mate
In a world where desires entangle and loyalties collide, he must choose between denying the irresistible connection with his fated mate or risking everything to claim her, as the growl of his wolf insists on a love that defies all odds.
Alpha Wolf’s Secret Nanny
In a race against time, he’ll embrace his inner wolf and risk everything to save his fated mate and their unborn child, defying the laws that bind them.
Alpha Wolf’s Secret Baby
In a world teeming with danger and forbidden love, she’ll defy all odds to protect her unborn child and fight for an unbreakable bond with her werewolf shifter mate, braving the depths of a secret world that threatens to tear them apart.
Alpha Wolf’s Fated Bride
In a world of forbidden alliances, she must trust her fated mate to safeguard their future and protect the precious gem that lies within her, as enemies close in, threatening to shatter their dreams of forever.
Alpha Wolf’s Fated Mate Shifter Box Set is a collection of five werewolf shifter romances with enemies to lovers, brother’s best friend, accidental pregnancy, and instalove. HEAs guaranteed.
About the Book:
A BOOK A DAY PRESENTS: COLOR THEORY 2: Love, The Tie That Binds is a romance anthology with THIRTEEN never-before-seen novellas. Each one filled with love, devotion, and determination shown through characters who follow their hearts, despite the racial obstacles that arise. Presented by A Book A Day, COLOR THEORY 2 brings stories of united hearts and the way their unions complete their world, filling their lives with undying affection, deep emotion, and an unbreakable bond. This anthology will only be available for a short time. All proceeds will aid the education of Black students through the A Book A Day Scholarship Fund.
Authors include: Aleatha Romig, A.L. Jackson, Amanda Shelley, A.M Kusi, Brenda Rothert, Chelle Bliss, Daryl Banner, Eden Butler, Elyse Kelly, Kat Mizera, Kenna Rey, Shannon Bruno, Taylor Danae Colbert, and T.K. Leigh. Foreword by Renita McKinney.
Billionaire Grump’s Secret Baby: An Enemies to Lovers Boss Romance by Ivy Karr
About the Book:
The boss I hate just might be my baby daddy.
It was the night I’ll never forget.
Every face was hidden behind a mask.
Yet, I was irresistibly drawn to a stranger…
He was like a god walking amongst men and I had to have him.
It didn’t take long for him to take charge and claim me between the sheets.
But I have yet to see his face.
I was daydreaming about the stranger at work.
Until my boss walks in… Gawd, I hate him.
Harrison Sloane. The grumpy, stubborn billionaire who thinks he’s god’s gift to women.
But somehow, Harrison reminds me of the stranger.
I might have been sleeping with the boss I hate.
And to make things worse, I’m now pregnant with twins…
Maturing as a Mystic by Del Hungerford
About the Book:
The unconditional love of our Divine Creator is so expansive that we’re invited to “come up here” on a mystical expedition as students of the deeper mysteries of the universe where we study and implement the blueprint for humanity.
In Kingdom School, we enter a maturing process in the Kingdom of Heaven where we fulfill our destiny as co-creators with the Trinity. Through living full-time in Their presence, we experience mystical encounters that hone our spiritual senses to the multi-layered truths of the Bible.
Del’s challenging lessons began while losing her home through the process of eminent domain. From a heavenly perspective, she viewed the past, present, and future through the eyes of the Trinity to understand the greater purpose of a highway project – one larger than her personal situation. She learned that failure leads to maturity because, in God, we always get do-overs.
Target (Puzzles)
Disney Alice in Wonderland 300 Piece Puzzle by Ceaco
About the Puzzle:
- Contains a 300 oversized piece jigsaw puzzle.
- Full color bonus poster included for help in solving.
- Features colorful imagery.
- Collect all styles from your favorite collection.
- Great for family nights, gifts, holiday gatherings, parties and more. High-quality, innovative and challenging jigsaw puzzle from Ceaco, puzzling millions since 1987!
Disney Thomas Kinkade Studios Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 750 Piece Puzzle by Ceaco
About the Puzzle:
- Contains a 750 piece jigsaw puzzle.
- Full color bonus poster included for help in solving.
- Features colorful imagery.
- Collect all styles from your favorite collection.
- Great for family nights, gifts, holiday gatherings, parties and more. High-quality, innovative and challenging jigsaw puzzle from Ceaco, puzzling millions since 1987!