'These ladies are perfect company' The Times 'Lore Segal has the sharp analytic eye of a born writer' The New York Times Book Review 'There is humour even in the most heart-breaking of her stories' Telegraph Five close friends in their 90s meet - as they have for decades - for their monthly 'ladies lunch', to puzzle, and laugh at, the enigmas and affronts of ageing. When one of their number is placed unhappily in a home the others conspire to spring her. Lore Segal's witty, yet poignant, short story, Ladies' Lunch, appeared in the New Yorker in 2017, when she herself turned ninety. It was followed by four New Yorker sequels. For this sparkling collection, Segal returns to her group of erudite, sharp-minded nonagenarians in Upper Manhattan offering startling insights into friendship and mortality. In the book's Other Stories, Segal includes tales from her acclaimed and prizewinning oeuvre to illuminate the hinterland of her characters - one of whom, like her, was a Kindertransport refugee. Beautifully crafted and profound, these stories distil the spirit of one of America's great authors to show us what a long life might bring.
In The Context of Love by Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the story of Angelica Schirrick. The novel opens with Angelica talking about her children and how she is dreading meeting their father, Garrick. After a disastrous marriage, Angelica is trying to find her footing. Her life is not what she thought it was, and things are getting worse. This made her reflect on things, things that were in the back of her mind. She remembered her first true love and how that love is still on her mind and how he still keeps her company at night. Was it her bad decisions or was it just bad luck that lured Angelica away from her true love? No matter what the catalyst was, Angelica wants to rise from the ashes and change her life. She wants to stand tall and proud and create a better life for her children and for herself. This is one of those novels that inspires you and makes you want to do better. Angelica is the type of protagonist that everyone can relate to. She depicts our fears and our anxieties. The story itself is different and fast paced. The reader gets all the information they need at the moment. There is a fulfilling quality to this novel that makes you feel satisfied, but at the same time it makes you want more. Another thing I noticed was that the novel was written in a very lyrical way. I could sing the dialogues and descriptions if I wanted to. This added a lot more fun to the story line and my reading experience.
This is a comprehensive plot studies analysis packet that I use with Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron". It is a user-friendly tool for any teacher as they they walk their students through the elements of story. Each of the 5 stages of plot are clearly defined, giving the students tangi...
The first time it happened had been an accident. Mareleia hadn’t expected him to be there, and she certainly hadn’t expected their chance meeting to escalate to ...
Stephen King returns to the world of 'Cujo' in short story collection, 'You Like It Darker.' Read an exclusive excerpt.
Great books about love for anyone who gags whenever they hear words like “serendipity,” “fate” or “soulmates.”
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The U.S.-based Kenyan writer is often tipped for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Now he's released Minutes of Glory, a short story collection which he calls his "literary autobiography."
Frances Housden returns with her best–selling, award–winning Chieftain series in this short novel about a young woman with a strong will and a sharp mind, and the man who has nothing to offer but his heart. Maggie McArthur never thought she would meet her fate in a clash of swords. She may wield a sword more skilfully than a needle, but it was more luck than proficiency that led to her piercing Dhugal Robertson through the shoulder. Frightened she has killed her opponent, Maggie stays to give him aid and ensure he returns to Sgian House safely. She may be the Chieftain's daughter, but she is perfectly capable of playing the healer for a few days until she is sure Dhugal will survive. The tender feelings he seems to inspire is nothing more than concern. After all, no suitor has ever raised her interest, so why should a penniless warrior with no clan to call his own?Dhugal's pride should be as wounded as his shoulder from being bested by a woman at sword play, but the sight of beautiful black hair spilling from under his opponent's bonnet has not only distracted him from his injury, but intrigued him, body and soul. But his attraction is doomed from the beginning. Though he could fall heart–deep for Maggie, she is the daughter of one of Scotland's most powerful Chieftains, and Dhugal is head of a penniless, homeless clan, a clan stripped of both pride and material possessions. What father would accept the troth of such a suitor? What woman could accept the hand of a man who has nothing to offer but love?
"A Gregorian chant / '90s R&B mash-up? I can't even..."
Theres no way not to suffer. But you try all kinds of ways to keep from drowning in it. The men and women in these eight short fictions grasp this truth on an elemental level, and their stories detail the ingenious and often desperate ways in which they try to keep their head above water. It may be the heroin that a down-and-out jazz pianist uses to face…
The first time it happened had been an accident. Mareleia hadn’t expected him to be there, and she certainly hadn’t expected their chance meeting to escalate to ...
The Kahlil Gibran phenomenon.
Delightfully retold in humorous verse, with stunning illustrations throughout, this is a beautiful reworked edition of Rudyard Kipling's children's classic, Just So Stories. A gorgeous gift for imaginative young readers. In this highly illustrated collection meet the cat who walked by himself, discover how the lazy camel got his hump, how the elephant got his long trunk, find out why the rhino has such wrinkly skin and how the whale got his teeny tiny throat. These well known, richly imagined stories tell of how the world came to be as it is. This is a smart, funny and younger approach to Kipling's work, and Just So Stories as you've never seen them before. Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories are one of the enduring classics of children's literature and these witty, inventive stories have delighted generations of children. Combining the brilliant rhyming talent of Elli Woollard and beautiful illustrations from the award-winning Marta Altes, Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories is an enchanting retelling of a much-loved classic for a new generation. A book to truly treasure and one you will want to share.
