“The Possession”

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Annie Ernaux, Books, Fact or Fiction, French, jealousy, obsessive, romance, self-regard, short book, The Possession

The Possession(Seven Stories Press, 2008)

French author Annie Ernaux in a scant 62 pages examines an obsessive, jealousy-fueled romance gone bad. Is it fact or fiction? Self-regard is a common theme in Ernaux’s works so that’s a very difficult question to answer. If you’ve ever messed up a love affair, this is definitely an interesting read.

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“The Mezzanine”

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American, Books, debut, escalator, footnotes, lunchtime, Nicolson Baker, office, originality, The Mezzanine, thoughts, work

The Mezzanine(Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1988)

The debut novel from American Nicholson Baker, The Mezzanine is the story of a man’s lunchtime trip up an escalator to the mezzanine of the office building where he works. It describes the thoughts that run through a person’s mind in any given few moments. The novel uses footnotes which actually compose most of the book. The Mezzanine has been praised for its originality and fierce attention to detail.

“Shit Happens”

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abused, benefits, Books, DI Savage, diary, dismembered, Eileen Wharton, English, independent, Newcastle, Rose Starling, Shit Happens, sink estate, topless

Shit Happens (Byker Books, 2012)

Shit Happens is an independent book in which Rose Starling, an abused wife is living on benefits with her three children on a sink estate in a small town in the Newcastle (England)area. Her problems intensify when bits of her ex-husband turn up in various places and DI Savage seems to be bending the evidence against her. On top of that, she’s being pressured by Vera Devlin into taking a job on the estate while working in a topless bar. Desperate to extricate herself from the mess, she breaks into her former marital home to retrieve the diary of her late husband, except her former mother-in-law has taken up residence and arrives home early from bingo that evening! Now what?

Shit Happens was written by English author Eileen Wharton. She has also published a short story collection (Rainbows in Puddles and a children’s book The Shmoohly Boo). Her most recent publication is a thriller entitled Blanket of Blood.

“The Wronged Sons”

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Books, British, disappearance, independent, John Marrs, lies, reappears, secrets, The Wronged Sons, world traveller

The Wronged Sons (CreateSpace, 2013)

This independent novel begs the question “what would you do if the person you loved suddenly vanished into thin air?” Catherine’s cozy life as a housewife and mom of 3 is quickly thrown into disarray when husband Simon disappears without explanation. She is convinced he hasn’t left by choice and soon confusion and spiraling debts threatens to tear her family apart. Meanwhile Simon has begun a carefree new life traveling the world. He’s determined not to disclose his past, even if it means resorting to extreme or violent measures. But why did he leave? Catherine finally gets her answer 25 years later when he suddenly reappears on her doorstep. Only during their final furious confrontation are all the secrets, lies and misunderstandings finally revealed.

The Wronged Sons was written by UK author John Marrs who moonlights as a freelance London-based journalist that has spent twenty years interviewing celebrities of TV, film and music for national newspapers and magazines.

“Summer People”

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Books, Erin Hilderbrand, family secret, Nantucket, Summer People, tradition, vacation

Summer People (St. Martin’s Press, 2003)

Arch Newton, a prominent New York attorney, has died in a plane crash on his way home from a business trip. His widow, Beth, decides to continue on the family tradition of retreating to Nantucket for the summer. She invites Marcus, the son of Arch’s final client to join her and her twin teenage daughters Winnie and Garrett, who have mixed feelings about this decision. Marcus, Winnie and Garrett embark on a journey of loss, first love and betrayal. They then stumble upon a shocking secret from Beth’s past and now have to keep it from destroying the family that is working hard to heal. Summer People was written by American author Elin Hilderbrand.

“Secrets of the Realm”

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18th century, Bev Stout, Books, eBook, independent, London, Secrets of the Realm, ship

Secrets of the Realm (eBook, 2013)

Available only as eBook, 15-year-old Annie is on the run after being blamed for her uncle’s death. Realizing the perils she will face on the streets of 18th century London, she disguises herself as a boy. She quickly becomes Captain Hawke’s cabin boy and must adjust to life on the Realm, working alongside the motley crew of outcasts and gentlemen while keeping them from discovering her secret. Annie quickly falls in love with her life, vowing never to leave the ship. But all too soon, her past catches up with her. Will she be able to return to her beloved new life?

Secrets of the Realm was written by American author Bev Stout as a gift to her family. It quickly found an outside audience on five continents and in 17 countries. Stout has written a second book, My Name is Nissa and is currently working on the sequel to Secrets of the Realm, Return of the Realm.

“Where Willy Went?”

Tags

banned book, Books, children, copulation, Great Swimming Race, illustrated, Mr. Browne, sperm, Where WIlly Went, yellow blanket

Where Willy Went (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2005)

First off, know that this children’s book is on the Banned Books list. Why? Well Willy is a sperm that lives inside Mr. Browne with his 300 million friends. They are preparing for the Great Swimming Race. Through preparation for the race, the book examines the inner workings of both Mr. Browne and his good lady wife, Mrs. Browne. Oh and the prize for winning the Great Swimming Race? Meeting up with a beautiful egg inside Mrs. Browne. The race and copulation do take place under the cover of a yellow blanket, thankfully. However, we do get to see Willy burrowing into Mrs. Browne’s egg, divide and a familiar shape appears.

Produced in an effort to present the facts of life in an accessible way to appeal to both children and parents, you be the judge. Does this book deserve to be on the banned books list?

“Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies”

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benefits, Books, Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies, expectations, For Dummies, information, options, qualified surgeons, questions, recovery, reference, risks

Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, 2005)

Hang on a minute, this reference guide will NOT teach you how to perform cosmetic surgery, so don’t run out to start a new career. What Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies will do is help guide you through the top procedures by addressing the risks and benefits to help you decide if the surgery if right for you. It also can help you to find qualified surgeons, evaluate the costs, help you set realistic expectations and enhance your recovery time and the results. The guide comes complete with a list of questions to ask before surgery and top websites for cosmetic surgery information.

“A Brief History of Time”

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1988, A Brief History of Time, Big Bang Theory, Black holes, Books, Carl Sagan, Gravity, science, Stephen Hawking, where did the universe come from

A Brief History of Time (Bantam, 1988)

Legendary theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking wrote what is considered the most important book in popular science ever published in 1988 — A Brief History of Time. Hawking attempts to answer one of humanity’s most fundamental questions — where did the universe come from? — and tried to explain cosmology through the Big Bang Theory, black holes, the nature of time and gravity and more. (Eight years later, A Brief of History of Time was illustrated and revised, updated and expanded.) Carl Sagan provided the foreward.

“The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear” Book

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Books, children, Don and Audrey Wood, illustrated, The Little Mouse The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear (Child’s Play International Ltd. 1984)

In this children’s book, Little Mouse is worries that the big hungry bear will take his freshly picked red ripe strawberry for himself. The story was written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood. The Big Hungry Bear appeared in another story from Don and Audrey Wood, Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear!.