Thryft Singapore

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Weisberger returns with a novel starring one of her favorite characters from The Devil Wears Prada—Emily Charlton, first assistant to Miranda Priestly, now a highly successful image consultant who’s just landed the client of a lifetime.Welcome to Greenwich, CT, where the lawns and the women are perfectly manicured, the Tito’s and sodas are extra strong, and everyone has something to say about the infamous new neighbor. Let’s be clear: Emily Charlton, Miranda Priestly’s ex-assistant, does not do the suburbs. She’s working in Hollywood as an image consultant to the stars, but recently, Emily’s lost a few clients. She’s hopeless with social media. The new guard is nipping at her heels. She needs a big opportunity, and she needs it now. Karolina Hartwell is as A-list as they come. She’s the former face of L’Oreal. A mega-supermodel recognized the world over. And now, the gorgeous wife of the newly elected senator from New York, Graham, who also has his eye on the presidency. It’s all very Kennedy-esque, right down to the public philandering and Karolina’s arrest for a DUI—with a Suburban full of other people’s children. Miriam is the link between them. Until recently she was a partner at one of Manhattan’s most prestigious law firms. But when Miriam moves to Greenwich and takes time off to spend with her children, she never could have predicted that being stay-at-home mom in an uber-wealthy town could have more pitfalls than a stressful legal career. Emily, Karolina, and Miriam make an unlikely trio, but they desperately need each other. Together, they’ll navigate the social landmines of life in America’s favorite suburb on steroids, revealing the truths—and the lies—that simmer just below the glittering surface. With her signature biting style, Lauren Weisberger offers a dazzling look into another sexy, over-the-top world, where nothing is as it appears.

Jess Mastriani has always had a talent for trouble. Instead of cheerleading, she prefers fistfights with the football team and the subsequent detentions that come with it. But one night, during a long walk home in a thunderstorm, she aquires a new talent - one that can be used for both good and evil.

If you're drawn to stories that blend the supernatural with mystery, then "When Lightning Strikes" is for you. It's not just an intriguing mystery; it’s a unique spin on the life of a teenager who's navigating high school and a newfound psychic ability. This book has a fantastic way of keeping you at the edge of your seat while also diving into the complexities of heroism and normalcy.

This book is a must-read for those seeking to understand the roots of fear and how it can limit our ability to achieve success. David Richo expertly examines the duality of love and fear, highlighting the way in which love can conquer our fears, effectively making us resource-full. With practical insights and inspiring anecdotes, this book will leave readers feeling empowered and ready to face any challenges that come their way.

A major motion picture adaptation by Studio Ghibli, creators of SPIRITED AWAY and ARRIETTY.


Anna hasn't a friend in the world - until she meets Marnie among the sand dunes. But Marnie isn't all she seems...


Sent away from her foster home one long, hot summer to a sleepy Norfolk village by the sea, Anna dreams her days away among the sandhills and marshes.


She never expected to meet a friend like Marnie, someone who doesn't judge Anna for being ordinary and not-even-trying. But no sooner has Anna learned the loveliness of friendship than Marnie vanishes...

Author: Joan G. Robinson
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 288
Publisher: HarperCollins s
Publication Date: 28 Oct 2014

This book is perfect for young readers who love action-packed adventures with mythical creatures. "When Monsters Escape" takes readers on a thrilling journey through the underworld, battling cyclopes, and saving the world from an army of monsters. Tony Abbott's writing style and vivid descriptions bring the mythological world to life, making it a must-read for any young reader who loves fantasy and adventure.

"When Mr Dog Bites offers a unique perspective on life and death through the eyes of a sixteen-year-old boy with Tourette's syndrome. This heartwarming and witty novel takes you on a journey with Dylan, as he tries to make the most of the time he has left, while also learning unexpected lessons about life and love. It's a must-read for fans of young adult fiction, especially those who love stories that explore the human experience with heart and humor."

"When Nature Turns Nasty" is an eye-opening and informative read that captures the devastating effects of natural disasters. The book contains compelling eyewitness accounts and striking photographs that truly bring the destructive force of nature to life. If you are interested in understanding the power of nature and how it can affect our lives, this book is definitely worth a read.

When Pigmen Fly would be a great read for young Minecraft fans who enjoy adventure stories.The book's unique and distinctive feature is that it is a graphic novel with over 700 images that will transport readers into the world of Minecraft. This book is an exciting adventure challenging the students' courage, teamwork and resourcefulness. The story will keep readers engaged as they follow Pixel, Sky, and Uma's journey through the End and Nether fortress battling blazes, magma cubes, ghasts, and zombie pigmen.

For too long, professional services firms have relied on the “producer-manager” model, which works well in uncomplicated business environments. However, today’s managing directors must balance often conflicting roles, more demanding clients, tougher competitors, and associates with higher expectations of partners at all levels.When Professionals Have to Lead presents an overarching framework better suited to such complexity. It identifies the four critical activities for effective PSF leadership: setting strategic direction, securing commitment to this direction, facilitating execution, and setting a personal example. Through examples from consulting practices, accounting firms, investment banks, and other professional service organizations, industry veterans DeLong, Gabarro, and Lees show how this model works to:• Align your firm’s culture and key organizational components.• Satisfy your clients’ needs without sacrificing essential managerial responsibilities.• Address matters of size, scale, and complexity while maintaining the qualities that make professional services firms unique.A valuable new resource, this book redefines the role of leadership in professional services firms.

Someone has replaced all the food in Blootinville with Chef Nibble's disgusting Snoodles and Cheaze, and a roving band of second graders have paralyzed the town with their gravy snack cup bombs! Can the Cupcaked Crusader save the town in time?

Author: Lawrence David
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 152
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: 27 May 2002

"When She Said I Do" is a perfect read for those interested in historical romance novels. The story takes the reader on a forbidden love journey between two individuals who could not be more different. Ren's gruff exterior and Callie's passion merge together to paint a picture of opposites attract. The most unique feature of the book is the bargaining that takes place between the two lovers for each of the pearls stolen. This element adds a unique twist to the story and will keep readers engaged till the very end.

It is a true-life story that has created a gripping and tragic narrative of what Cambodia was like during the killing fields of Pol Pot regime from the perspective of an eleven-year-old-child survivor.After a history of more than two thousand years of the Cambodian people, the communist regime stripped out the customs and beliefs, arts, way of life and parlance to suit the revolutionary idea of agrarian society where education, modern technology, entertainment and family bond were no longer regarded as essential.

Feelings"Oh is Sophie ever angry now!"Everybody gets angry sometimes. For children, anger can be very upsetting. Parents, teachers, and children can talk about it. People do lots of different things when they get angry. In this Caldecott-honor book, kids will see what Sophie does when she gets angry. What do you do?"...Bang's double-page illustrations, vibrating with saturated colors, that reveal the drama of the child's emotions."-SLJ, starred review"...an elegant and thought-provoking book for...children learning how to deal with emotions." -NY Times Book Review Everybody gets angry sometimes. For children, anger can be very upsetting. Parents, teachers, and children can talk about it. People do lots of different things when they get angry. In this Caldecott Honor book, kids will see what Sophie does when she gets angry. What do you do?

When Strangers Marry could be a good read for those who enjoy historical romance novels set in the Regency era. The book offers an exciting and passionate story of Lysette and Max who fight against society’s norms to be together. Its most unique and distinctive feature is its captivating plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Part of the TED series: When Strangers Meet

Our lives are increasingly insular. We are in a hurry, our heads are down, minds elsewhere, we hear only the voices we already recognize and rarely take the effort to experience something or someone new. When Strangers Meet argues for the pleasures and transformative possibilities of talking to people you don't know. Talking to a stranger pulls you into a shared humanity, it's a source of creative energy, it opens your world, it cements your relationship to the places you live and work and play, it's a beautiful interruption in the steady routines of our lives. Talking to strangers wakes you up.

But who is a stranger? Many of us have a deep-seated belief that strangers are dangerous. That idea cripples us and prevents us from connecting with the wider world. Exploring the rich meanings that are conjured up in these experiences of fleeting intimacy, Stark renders visible the hidden processes by which we decide who to trust in passing, and the unwritten rules by which these encounters operate. When Strangers Meet teaches readers how to start talking to strangers, and includes adventurous challenges for those who dare.

Author: Kio Stark
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 128
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Publication Date: 13 Sep 2016

Presents an account of good classroom practice that relates to the existing literature, offering explanations of theoretical concepts which inform the practice of teaching and learning. Recommendations are designed to help teachers think through their particular situation and its problems.

“Poignant … An unforgettable book.”- Elizabeth Becker, journalist and author of "When the War Was Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge Revolution"A man returns home to Cambodia whose people, unseen by the outside world and unknown to him, are dying in vast numbers in one of history’s bloodiest revolutions. He is never seen again.Back in France his disappearance in 1977 – during the near four-year period of catastrophe that survivors call “the time when the clouds fell from the sky” – marked the start of an unceasing search for answers by his wife Martine and their daughter Neary.It seemed an impossible 30-year-old diplomat Ouk Ket had vanished into the wasteland of Pol Pot’s Cambodia, a country whose population was enslaved and whose borders were closed.Decades later, though, Martine's and Neary's perseverance paid off when they testified at the war crimes trial of Comrade Duch, the chief of Pol Pot’s notorious S-21 prison where thousands of “enemies of the revolution” were tortured prior to their execution.In this book, spanning five decades and five lives, journalist Robert Carmichael takes the reader on a compelling journey into the causes and consequences of the Khmer Rouge’s savage rule during which two million people died, one in every four Cambodians.In describing one family’s experience, this book illuminates not just the tragedy of a nation but the fundamental limitations of international justice."Crisply written, elegantly constructed and thoroughly researched, When Clouds Fell from the Sky is a perceptive, often heart-breaking book.”− David Chandler, author of "Voices from Terror and History in Pol Pot’s Secret Prison"“This is both the poignant story of a young woman seeking the truth about her father’s disappearance at the hands of the Khmer Rouge regime, and an unflinching portrait of the executioner who oversaw the torture chamber where he was imprisoned. An unforgettable book.”− Elizabeth Becker, author of "When the War Was Cambodia and The Khmer Rouge Revolution"“A beautifully written book that does a masterful job weaving the history of the Khmer Rouge tribunal with a more personal story of human tragedy and redemption. This extremely thoughtful work is the product of its author’s deep understanding of Cambodia. Anyone trying to make sense of the Khmer Rouge war crimes court should read this timely book.”− Peter Maguire, author of "Law and War", "Facing Death in Cambodia" and "Thai Stick"“Carmichael writes intelligently about a complicated subject that continues to haunt the survivors, be they Cambodians or anybody else from the myriad of foreign powers that dabbled in this country’s tragic history.”− The Diplomat magazine

font size="+1">'Nothing gets me to a bookstore faster than Eloisa James' Julia Quinn, bestselling author of Bridgertons

The fourth book in the New York Times bestselling Desperate Duchesses series, perfect for fans of Julia Quinn's Bridgertons and Eloisa's Wildes of Lindow Castle

'Choc-full of romantic heroes romantic heroes that would give Darcy a run for his money.' Carole Matthews

For the Duke of Cosway, it was a marriage of convenience. For his bride, it was anything but...

Isidore has waited for many long, frustrating years for her mysterious husband to return from exploring the world. They were married by proxy when she was just a child, but now she's fully grown and yearns for nothing more than for her duke to return.

Until he does come back. And he is not what she expected. At all.

Cosway refuses to conform to any of society's norms: he won't powder his hair, has little regard for cravats, and seems frighteningly keen on running around the countryside in nothing but short trousers. But - more shocking than any other revelation - he reveals that he is a virgin.

While Cosway begins to discover that there may be more adventures in marriage than in all of the rest of the world, Isadore will learn whether her duke was truly worth waiting for...

Author: Eloisa James
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 384
Publisher: HODDER & STOUGHTON
Publication Date: 12 Nov 2009

Julie Otsuka's commanding debut novel paints a portrait of the Japanese internment camps unlike any we have ever seen. With crystalline intensity and precision, Otsuka uses a single family to evoke the deracination "both physical and emotional" of a generation of Japanese Americans.In five chapters, each flawlessly executed from a different point of view "the mother receiving the order to evacuate; the daughter on the long train ride to the camp; the son in the desert encampment; the family's return to their home; and the bitter release of the father after more than four years in captivity" she has created a small tour de force, a novel of unrelenting economy and suppressed emotion.Spare, intimate, arrestingly understated, When the Emperor Was Divine is a haunting evocation of a family in wartime and an unmistakably resonant lesson for our times. It heralds the arrival of a singularly gifted new novelist.From the Hardcover edition.

In Japanese-occupied Malaya, lives are shattered and a woman discovers her inner strength in a world ravaged by war. Following the death of their matriarch, the lives of Chye Hoon’s family are turned upside down. Now that the British have fled and the Japanese have conquered, their once-benign world changes overnight. Amid the turmoil, Chye Hoon’s daughter-in-law, Mei Foong, must fend for her family as her husband, Weng Yu, becomes increasingly embittered. Challenged in ways she never could have imagined and forced into hiding, Mei Foong finds a deep reservoir of resilience she did not know she had and soon draws the attentions of another man. Is Mei Foong’s resolve enough to save herself, her marriage, and her family? Only when peace returns to Malaya will she learn the full price she must pay for survival.

If you're feeling reflective about life's priorities and how to align them with your spiritual beliefs, then this book by John Ortberg will speak to you. It offers a compelling allegory about focusing on what truly matters—beyond material success and temporary pleasures—something that can resonate deeply in our fast-paced, success-driven society. It's a playbook for rethinking what winning in life really means, encouraging a deeper investment in relationships and spiritual growth.

"When the Ghosts Went Mad" is an ideal book for young adult readers who enjoy mystery and suspense. The book comprises two horror stories that captivate the reader, and the author's creativity in crafting the horror scenes leaves readers on the edge of their seats. James Lee's writing style is engaging, and his attention to detail brings the story to life, making the book a worthwhile read.

Where Can You Turn for Hope
When the Hurt Runs Deep?
At some point in life, every one of us will face the dark pain of heartache and despair, a hurt that pierces so deep we're left gasping with questions:
"Why me? Why now?"
" "
"What have I done to deserve this?"
" "
"Will the pain ever go away?"
" "
"How can God just stand by and let this happen?"
" "
"What do I have left to hope for?"
" "
" "
Writing from insights she has gained, not only through her own valleys of deep hurt but also from years of study and counseling others through their pain, Kay Arthur points the way toward genuine healing. With candor, grace, and vulnerability, she invites you to join her on a journey toward wholeness as you exchange your fears and frustrations, hurts and disappointments for a hope that will never disappoint.

Author: Kay Arthur
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 240
Publisher: Waterbrook Press (A Division of Random House Inc)
Publication Date: 05 Oct 2010

Part of the 'Courtney' series'Something always dies when the lion feeds and yet there is meat for those that follow him.' The lion is Sean, hero of this tremendous drama of the men who took possession of South Africa in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.Sean and his twin-brother Garrick grew up on their father's farm in Natal. The first part of the book deals with his childhood and youth and his longing to become a successful farmer and hard-hitting fighter like his father.The tough life of cattle-farming is brusquely interrupted by the Zulu Wars, when Sean and his brother see fighting for the first time. Wilbur Smith vividly recreates the excitement of the war for the young men-their hope of winning their own cattle, the horror of the massacre at Isandhlwana, the heroism of the defence at Rorkes Drift.'Witwatersrand' is the name of the second part of this book and it tells the story of Sean's fabulous success in the gold rush and his rich life with Duff Charleywood and the beautiful Candy in the new town of Johannesburg, where huge fortunes were made and lost in a morning's dealing on the Exchange.The atmosphere of this feverish, violent time is brilliantly drawn: the heavy drinking, the elaborate houses, the ruthless abandonment of the failure. Sean and Duff are caught at last in a trap laid by their rival, the sinister and clever Hradsky, and leave Johannesburg for the wilderness to seek their fortunes once more.And now the book moves to its climax. At last it seems as though Sean will settle to a quiet married life – but fate has other plans for him. They return to Johannesburg and tragedy strikes quickly. Sean finds himself alone once more...Filled with action scenes in war and the early heady days of the gold rush, and adventure among the vast game herds of the African wilderness, this novel is dominated by the towering compelling personality of Sean, whose life story is continued in The Sound of Thunder and A Sparrow Falls.

"When The Moon Hatched" could be a great read for you if you're drawn to worlds where magic pulsates as vividly as the characters' emotions. The synergy between a fierce protagonist like Raeve and the intricate society around her—bound by ancient dragon lore and elemental nobility—makes this tale one to devour. Plus, the balancing act of witty banter and deeper passions lends the book a texture that fans of fantasy romance will find both compelling and satisfying.

FULLY UPDATED FOR 2019We cannot live without water. But with 7.5 billion people competing for this single unevenly-distributed resource, the planet is drying up. In When the Rivers Run Dry, Fred Pearce explores the growing world water crisis, from Kent to Kenya. His powerful reportage takes us to places where waterways are turning to sand before they reach the ocean; where fields are parched and crops no longer grow; where once fertile ground has turned to desert; where wars are fought over access to water and cultures are dying out. But he offers us hope for the future - if we can radically revolutionise the way we treat water, and take personal responsibility for the water we use.This landmark work, from a respected and accomplished scientist, will transform the way we view the water in our reservoirs and rivers, and change the way we treat the water in our taps.

When the Soul Listens is perfect for individuals who are seeking spiritual fulfillment through contemplative prayer. The book offers a clear path to connect with God and find guidance in prayer. It is ideal for individuals facing spiritual dryness or those who feel disillusioned and are searching for something that makes sense. The book is unique in its approach towards contemplative prayer, it moves readers away from formulas and step-by-step plans towards true contemplative prayer, teaching them to open themselves to God's presence and guidance.

Award-winning journalist Elizabeth Becker started covering Cambodia in 1973 for The Washington Post, when the country was perceived as little more than a footnote to the Vietnam War. Then, with the rise of the Khmer Rouge in 1975 came the closing of the border and a systematic reorganization of Cambodian society. Everyone was sent from the towns and cities to the countryside, where they were forced to labor endlessly in the fields. The intelligentsia were brutally exterminated, and torture, terror, and death became routine. Ultimately, almost two million people—nearly a quarter of the population—were killed in what was one of this century's worst crimes against humanity.When the War Was Over is Elizabeth Becker's masterful account of the Cambodian nightmare. Encompassing the era of French colonialism and the revival of Cambodian nationalism; 1950s Paris, where Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot received his political education; the killing fields of Cambodia; government chambers in Washington, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, Hanoi, and Phnom Penh; and the death of Pol Pot in 1998; this is a book of epic vision and staggering power. Merging original historical research with the many voices of those who lived through the times and exclusive interviews with every Cambodian leader of the past quarter century, When the War Was Over illuminates the darkness of Cambodia with the intensity of a bolt of lightning.

Frannie O'Neill is a caring young veterinarian living in the Colorado Rockies, trying to erase the memory of her beloved husband's mysterious murder. It is not long before another neighbor suddenly dies, and FBI agent Kit Harrison arrives at Frannie's doorstep. Kit is hell-bent on solving the heinous case despite resounding protests from the FBI and the thrashing of his own internal demons.Kit secretly pursues the investigation, yet witnesses keep turning up dead. Then Frannie stumbles upon an astonishing discovery in the nearby woods, and their lives are altered in ways they could never have imagined. Simply knowing the secret of Max -- the terrified 11-year-old girl with an amazing gift -- could mean death.As more and more diabolical details are unearthed, the murderer's bloody trail ultimately leads the trio to an underground lab network, known as "the School." Here scientists conduct shockingly incomprehensible experiments involving children and genetic alteration.

If the pitter-patter of tiny feet is a sound you're anticipating with joy or nostalgia, "When the World Was Waiting for You" is a gem that could tug at your heartstrings. The tender portrayal of a bunny family preparing for their newest member is a heartening read, elegantly encapsulating the affection and excitement that comes with a new addition to the family. Whether you're a soon-to-be parent, a loving sibling, or simply cherish the innocence of this life milestone, this book's charming illustrations and touching narrative capture the bliss of expectancy in a way that can resonate with anyone who's been touched by the magic of new life.

Japan invades and captures the British colony of Singapore in 1942. All Europeans on the island are being interned. Edward Schirmer faces a dilemma-he is German, but born as a British subject. In a strange stroke of fortune, he finds himself friends with General Tomoyuki Yamashita, the famed Tiger of Malaya. Seeing the fate of the other Europeans, Edward reluctantly lets the Japanese assume he is a friendly German national. Only Yamashita knows otherwise. For a time, the secret of his true identity remains between the two men only. But when politics removes the protective Yamashita from the picture, betrayal ensues and Edward finds himself in prison, his family scattered. Based on the true life story of his son Hans Schirmer, Tigers In Singapore is a tale of a six year-old boy's survival, alone on the streets of a war-torn, vanquished nation. Where everyone is hungry and racial tension is rife. Where martial law allows the Occupiers to summarily execute at will. Amid the horror of war, this young boy learns to live, while witnessing an epic moment in history.

If you're feeling lost amid life's curveballs, Haemin Sunim's "When Things Don't Go Your Way" might just be the lighthouse you need. It's a book that gracefully marries Zen Buddhist principles with the nitty-gritty of overcoming life's inevitable hurdles. Through personal anecdotes and accessible philosophy, it promises to guide you towards a more centered self, turning setbacks into serendipitous paths for growth and self-discovery.

When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön is a must-read for anyone struggling to find happiness in the midst of difficult times. Chödrön's unique perspective on suffering and pain provides a refreshing approach to traditional Buddhist wisdom. Through practical exercises and compassionate advice, readers can learn how to use difficult emotions to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage. This book is perfect for anyone looking to reverse negative patterns, work through chaotic situations, and cultivate social action. Readers have praised Chödrön's writing for its ability to balance challenging subject matter with essential hope and love.

This book is a great read for someone who feels overwhelmed by life's difficulties and needs guidance on how to overcome them. Pema Chödrön draws on traditional Buddhist wisdom to provide practical tools for transforming negative patterns into positive habits, enabling readers to find peace even amidst chaos. Her approach of moving towards pain and embracing it in order to grow and move forward is a unique and powerful concept that is sure to resonate with readers. Overall, this book is a valuable addition to any spiritual library, and a must-read for anyone looking to find peace and joy in difficult times.

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This is the ultimate guide to the world of the Freak. Renegade thinkers and bestselling sensations Levitt and Dubner have carefully curated the very best of their blogs, conversations, wisecracks and advice from the last decade to reveal the outlandish truth about everything from lying to bankrobbing, fast food to sex taxes.

'We are all Freakonomists now' Washington Post

'A phenomenon ... their approach has won them a cult following' Observer

'Lie back and let Levitt and Dubner's bouncy prose style carry you along from one peculiarity to the next' Sunday Telegraph

'You are guaranteed a good time' Financial Times

Author: Steven D. Levitt
Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 400
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Publication Date: 28 Dec 2017

This is the ultimate guide to the world of the Freak. Renegade thinkers and bestselling sensations Levitt and Dubner have carefully curated the very best of their blogs, conversations, wisecracks and advice from the last decade to reveal the outlandish truth about everything from lying to bankrobbing, fast food to sex taxes.'We are all Freakonomists now' Washington Post'A phenomenon ... their approach has won them a cult following' Observer'Lie back and let Levitt and Dubner's bouncy prose style carry you along from one peculiarity to the next' Sunday Telegraph'You are guaranteed a good time' Financial Times

"When To Walk Away" provides biblical principles for setting healthy boundaries and dealing with toxic people in our lives. It helps readers to focus on their God-given purpose and say no to bad patterns that delay their work. This book is recommended to individuals who want to learn how to set healthy boundaries and prioritize their goals in life.

Dive into the captivating world of science and its enigmas. Labatut takes you on a thrilling ride, intertwining history and philosophy with mind-bending scientific discoveries. As you explore the unknown, you'll be confronted with profound questions about the nature of reality and our place in the universe. Brace yourself for a thought-provoking adventure that challenges your understanding of the world.

We are seventeen and shattered and still dancing. We have messy, throbbing hearts, and we are stronger than anyone could ever know…Jonah never thought a girl like Vivi would come along.Vivi didn’t know Jonah would light up her world.Neither of them expected a summer like this…a summer that would rewrite their futures.In an unflinching story about new love, old wounds, and forces beyond our control, two teens find that when you collide with the right person at just the right time, it will change you forever.

Recommendation: "When We Were Birds" is a mesmerizing debut that beautifully weaves together myth and modernity. The story follows the intertwined destinies of Darwin and Yejide, culminating in an ancient cemetery where destiny awaits. With an emphasis on grief, renewal, and hope, this book will resonate with readers who appreciate powerful storytelling and a touch of magic.

An earlier version of this novel was published under the title A SERPENTINE AFFAIR*The addictive new novel from Tina Seskis, author of One Step Too Far.It had always been the six of us.Since we met at university twenty-five years ago, we'd faced everything together. Break-ups and marriages, motherhood and death. We were closer than sisters; the edges of our lives bled into each other.But that was before the night of the reunion. The night of exposed secrets and jagged accusations. The night when everything changed.And then we were five.

"... I've worked hard over the years to check the spread of crime and evil wherever it has manifested itself." Christopher Banks, the protagonist of Kazuo Ishiguro's fifth novel, When We Were Orphans, has dedicated his life to detective work but behind his successes lies one unsolved mystery: the disappearance of his parents when he was a small boy living in the International Settlement in Shanghai. Moving between England and China in the inter-war period, the book, encompassing the turbulence and political anxieties of the time and the crumbling certainties of a Britain deeply involved in the opium trade in the East, centres on Banks's idealistic need to make sense of the world through the small victories of detection and his need to understand finally what happened to his mother and father. This new novel, however, is the deliberate antithesis of the classic English detective story--the hermetic country-house worlds of Agatha Christie, the classic "locked room" puzzles in which order and sanity is restored at the story's end. Ishiguro mimics the functional style and clipped speech patterns of the genre, ironising its reliance on melodrama and stereotype, while developing a narrative of subtlety, great emotional depth, and political and cultural acuity: what we get is a negative image of classic detective fiction, in which the solved crimes are mentioned in passing and the real mystery is played out in the psychology of the detective himself. The act of detection, Ishiguro suggests, is one we all perform on our own past, struggling to marshal clues and evidence whilst trying to construct the story of ourselves; the one mystery Banks seems unable to solve is his own. If Ishiguro's concerns as a writer remain broadly the same as in previous novels such as his Booker Prize-winning The Remains of the Day--the complexities, instability and elusiveness of memory, dramatised through a first-person narrator--this new book shows how flexible and powerful the form has become for him. Banks' quest is both deeply personal and resonantly emblematic of us all: ...for those like us, our fate is to face the world as orphans, chasing through long years the shadows of vanished parents. There is nothing for it but to try and see through our missions to the end, as best we can, for until we do so, we will be permitted no calm. When We Were Orphans is an astonishing book, rich and profound on many levels, and one that will live clearly in the memory of all who read it. --Burhan Tufail

England, 1930s. Christopher Banks has become the country's most celebrated detective, his cases the talk of London society. Yet one unsolved crime has always haunted him: the mysterious disappearance of his parents, in old Shanghai, when he was a small boy. This book tells a remarkable story of memory, intrigue and the need to return.

England, 1930s. Christopher Banks has become the country's most celebrated detective, his cases the talk of London society. Yet one unsolved crime always haunted him: the mysterious disappearance of his parents, in Old Shanghai, when he was a small boy. Now, as the world lurches towards total war, Banks realizes that the time has come for him to return to the city of his childhood and at last solve the mystery - that only by doing so will civilization be saved from the approaching catastrophe.Moving between London and Shanghai of the inter-war years, When We Were Orphans is a story of memory, intrigue and the need to return: of a childhood vision of the world surviving deep into adulthood, indelibly shaping and distorting a person's life.

Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 256
Publisher: FABER & FABER
Publication Date: 01 Mar 2001

Todd was the brother of the man she loved!Barbara was not prepared for the shock awaiting her when her fiance, Todd, took her on holiday to his family's ranch. All the heartache of her brief affair with Jock Malloy surfaced again as she discovered that not only was he the owner of the ranch, he was Todd's half brother. Not even Todd could protect her from Jock's renewed assault on her battered and confused emotions. Knowing and loving Jock as she did, how could she ever be a proper wife to Todd?

Through fresh readings of texts ranging from Homer's Iliad , Swift's Tale of a Tub , and Austen's Emma through the United States Constitution and McCulloch v. Maryland , James Boyd White examines the relationship between an individual mind and its language and culture as well as the "textual community" established between writer and audience. These striking textual analyses develop a rhetoric—a "way of reading" that can be brought to any text but that, in broader terms, becomes a way of learning that can shape the reader's life."In this ambitious and demanding work of literary criticism, James Boyd White seeks to communicate 'a sense of reading in a new and different way.' . . . [White's] marriage of lawyerly acumen and classically trained literary sensibility—equally evident in his earlier work, The Legal Imagination —gives the best parts of When Words Lose Their Meaning a gravity and moral earnestness rare in the pages of contemporary literary criticism."—Roger Kimball, American Scholar"James Boyd White makes a state-of-the-art attempt to enrich legal theory with the insights of modern literary theory. Of its kind, it is a singular and standout achievement. . . . [White's] selections span the whole range of legal, literary, and political offerings, and his writing evidences a sustained and intimate experience with these texts. Writing with natural elegance, White manages to be insightful and inciteful. Throughout, his timely book is energized by an urgent love of literature and law and their liberating potential. His passion and sincerity are palpable."—Allan C. Hutchinson, Yale Law Journal"Undeniably a unique and significant work. . . . When Words Lose Their Meaning is a rewarding book by a distinguished legal scholar. It is a showcase for the most interesting sort of inter-disciplinary the kind that brings together from traditionally separate fields not so much information as ideas and approaches."—R. B. Kershner, Jr., Georgia Review

Stanley's book might just be the lifeline you didn't know you needed. If you've been struggling to juggle the demanding worlds of work and family, feeling like you're shortchanging your loved ones, this is for you. The practical advice within these pages could help you redefine your priorities and reclaim that much-needed family time, possibly leading to less stress and more harmony both at home and in the office.