Bitter

Bitter

Akwaeke Emezi

Fiction / Cultural / Africa

From National Book Award finalist Akwaeke Emezi comes a companion novel to the critically acclaimed PET that explores both the importance and cost of social revolution—and how youth lead the way.After a childhood in foster care, Bitter is thrilled to have been chosen to attend Eucalyptus, a special school where she can focus on her painting surrounded by other creative teens. But outside this haven, the streets are filled with protests against the deep injustices that grip the city of Lucille. Bitter’s instinct is to stay safe within the walls of Eucalyptus . . . but  her  friends  aren’t  willing  to  settle  for  a  world  that’s  so  far  away from what they deserve. Pulled between old friendships, her artistic passion, and a new romance, Bitter isn’t sure where she  belongs—in  the  studio  or  in  the ...
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An African Elegy

An African Elegy

Ben Okri

Fiction / Cultural / Africa

Dreams are the currency of Okri's writing, particularly in this first book of poems, An African Elegy, but also in his books of short stories and prize-winning novel The Famished Road. Okri's dreams are made on the stuff of Africa's colossal economic and political problems, and reading the poems is to experience a constant succession of metaphors of resolution in both senses of the word. Virtually every poem contains an exhortation to climb out of the African miasma, and virtually every poem harvests the dream of itself with an upbeat restorative ending' - Giles Foden, Times Literary Supplement
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The Harder They Fall

The Harder They Fall

Bali Rai

Young Adult / Cultural / Contemporary Romance

Cal's family are proud to live in an 'analogue' world - no wifi in their house , just an ancient black-and-white TV. At school, Cal has no choice but to live in the 21st century, coping with a range of bullies and chancers on a daily basis. When Cal's mum decides to 'rebalance' the family with a stint as volunteers at a local foodbank, Cal inadvertently discovers new kid Jacob's secret, and Jacob flips. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 13+
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Mohinder's War

Mohinder's War

Bali Rai

Young Adult / Cultural / Contemporary Romance

A thrilling World War II adventure set in occupied France, featuring an Indian RAF pilot. Great for fans of Michael Morpurgo and John Boyne, and those who want diverse historical fiction. Thirteen-year-old Joelle Breton stumbles across Indian-born RAF pilot Mohinder Singh when his plane crashes in occupied France and it's up to her and her parents to hide him from the Nazis. After all, her parents are brave members of the French Resistance and will do everything they can to help get Mohinder back to Britain. But when they are betrayed and tragedy strikes, Joelle and Mohinder will have to act fast if they are ever to evade the enemy. Flashbacks offer dramatic stories set in key moments of history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics.
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Married to the Money

Married to the Money

W. W. Tarn

History / Cultural / India

Greed is defined as an excessive desire to possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially wealth and power. A gold-digger is defined as a person who dates someone simply to extract money from them. Twenty-six-year-old Chanel Franklin fits both definitions to a tee. Her "Married to the Money" mentality leads her to make more than a few bad choices. On the road to riches, she gets caught up in a whirlwind affair with a certified baller. After losing her mind and common sense, she gives up a good job, a great man, and a comfy lifestyle just to live life in the fab lane. On Chanel's journey to obtain the finer things in life, she quickly realizes the grass isn't always greener on the other side. More money almost always means more problems! She's been betrayed by family, friends, and a few false admirers. She's also learned more lessons, both physical and mental, than she cares to remember. When she realizes money is the root of all evil, it may be...
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A Cry in the Wind

A Cry in the Wind

BobA. Troutt

Cultural / Ireland / Romance

The stories in A CRY IN THE WIND are seasoned with twists and turns that will take you on an adventure, as the unlocking of the truth that lay dormant for years in the grave finally rises to face its judgment. The ghost that lurks hidden in the words of the collection will carry you from the enchanted darkness of the night to the haunting “Cry in the Wind.”"Cotton Bloom" – From a small town in Arkansas a brave young girl with a hidden secret has to face the world and grow up. Her struggle as a mixed child has its drawbacks, but beneath the surface of her childhood lies a haunting secret that will drive her and bring her to the reality of the truth. As a beautiful young woman working in a law firm in Baltimore, she receives a startling phone call from her hometown. The call will eventually bring her to the victory in her life that she has longed for and set her free from the bondage of her haunting past."Ellie’s Cry" – A woman is driving with her daughter from Alabama to Tennessee, seeking to get away from an abusive husband. But unknown to her the travel will unlock the door of a serial killer who is stalking the county. When she stops at a bar to get directions, Elllie turns up missing. The search begins and the puzzle of the disappearance begins to unravel. As the search deepens all hope is gone until some unexpected evidence filters from the hidden darkness. Ellie’s haunting cry guides the FBI Agent Brandon to unveiling the truth. Ellie’s mother is put into an insane asylum and from there she hears Eillie’s cry. In the end, Brandon moves in on the killer and sets Ellie’s crying ghost to rest. But, does he?"Blackberry" – In the story of Blackberry you find a struggling killer having to face and overcome a horrible past. His dead victims are the stepping stones that lead him to the truth about himself and the tragic thing that happened to him. They hold the key of who he is; a victim himself trying to be free. Haunted by his past as a child he tries to escape, but only finds the truth that unlocks the door of his freedom in the end. A simple day of picking berries turns out to be a devastation of murders. Lying and insanity drives him to the truth that he needs."Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" – A serial killer is on the loose, terrifying the city of Nashville. The police are in search of a homeless boy who they believe holds the key to the crimes. With corruption in the Governor’s office and the Memphis mafia, the trickle-down effect holds the homeless boy as a possible suspect. "Now I lay me down to sleep," a simple innocent prayer that binds a boy and his mother in a bond that ties the story together in mystery and suspense. As a child the boy is driven away by the murder of his mother who has been killed by his abusive father. After her death he is taken in by a friend and raised until he is a teenager, but after the death of his friend he is turned out into the streets of Nashville to live. Life on the street holds its hardships, but from the words of the simple prayer his mother used to tell him guides him through those dark days and nights on the street. The police find the answers from the twists and turns of the evidence and they solve the case. The murders finally stop, leaving Nashville at rest.
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Control

Control

Omar Tyree

Fiction / Cultural / African American

Six talented but dangerously toxic personalities in the entertainment hotbed of Atlanta push their psychologist to her own vulnerable limits – and maybe beyond – in this enthralling, knife-edged thriller from NAACP Image Award-winning author Omar Tyree. Dr. Victoria Benning knows it's unethical to discuss the therapy sessions of her clients, but the drama of their unpredictable lives tests her professional role like never before. First, she counsels Mrs. Melody, a brutally honest, gorgeous rap artist who relies on sexual leverage with men to elevate her music career. Then there's Charles Clay, a hot young film director and master manipulator with a fetish for opportunistic women. Tyrell Hodge is a frustrated screenwriter, part-time driver, and full-time complainer who desperately needs a break. Dark & Moody is a music producer who prays for a blood sacrifice in order to succeed. Joseph Drake, a venture capitalist from a powerful,...
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The Sixteen Pleasures

The Sixteen Pleasures

Robert Hellenga

Fiction / Cultural / Italy

A centuries-old book is found in Florence in this novel with "a sympathetic heroine, a suspenseful plot . . . and illuminating meditations on life, art, and love" (Chicago Tribune). Margot Harrington, an American volunteer in Florence, is an expert at book conservancy. While struggling to save a waterlogged convent library after the devastating Arno flood of 1966, she comes across a fabulous volume of sixteen erotic drawings by Giulio Romano, accompanying sixteen steamy sonnets by Pietro Aretino. When it was first published over four centuries ago, the Vatican ordered all copies destroyed. This single—now unique—volume has survived. The abbess needs to save the order's finances—so she prevails upon Margot to find a buyer for the magnificently illustrated erotica. But of course, she must accomplish this discreetly—meaning without the bishop's knowledge. But this is not Margot's only clandestine project....
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Cairo

Cairo

Arun Krishnan

Cultural / India / Asian Literature / Indian Literature

Kabir -- a private eye -- is grappling with a conundrum. His wife has left him only three days after the wedding. A client asks him to track down a missing cat called Luna. When Kabir sets out in the cat's pursuit, he hits upon a startling revelation about life and love.There are some questions that even a private detective cannot answer. Why doesn't my wife talk to me? Why does she spend all her time following the Arab Spring on the Internet? And did she leave me only three days after the wedding? Kabir -- Lucknow's most successful sleuth -- is grappling with all of these questions, when a client asks him to track down a missing cat called Luna. When Kabir sets out in the cat's pursuit, he hits upon a startling revelation about life and love.
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Pecking Order

Pecking Order

Omar Tyree

Fiction / Cultural / African American

New York Times bestselling author Omar Tyree continues to write captivating novels with Pecking Order, the tale of an ambitious young accountant, Ivan Davis, who jumps into the high-stakes racket of industry promotions and celebrity parties in Southern California. Starting with a simple plan to promote business network events among the rich, famous, and frivolous clients he works with, Ivan begins to make a name for himself. He soon comes face-to-face with Lucina Gallo, the reigning diva of San Diego's nightlife culture. She needs a new partner she can trust, and one who knows everything about money. For this dollar-hungry entrepreneur, the timing couldn't be better. Who wouldn't want to be partners with the most glamorous girl in the city? Ivan quickly teams up with her for business — and for possible pleasure. However, for Lucina, business is business and nothing extra. Or is it? After throwing a sizzling-hot birthday party for a...
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The Living Days

The Living Days

Ananda Devi

Fiction / Cultural / Africa

"Brutal and entirely believable, a gorgeous and haunting depiction of London and the real lives and memories of those unseen within it." —Publishers Weekly "A magnificent gem." —Jennifer Croft, translator of Flights A chance encounter on Portobello Road incites an unsettling, magnetic attraction between Mary, a seventy-five-year-old white British spinster, and Cub, a thirteen-year-old Jamaican boy from Brixton. Mary clings increasingly to phantoms as dementia overtakes her reality, latching on to Cub and channeling her remaining energy into their relationship. But their macabre romance comes to a horrific climax, as white supremacy, poverty, and class conflict explode on the streets of London. Through exquisite juxtaposition, Ananda Devi uses alluring prose to confront the tensions of an increasingly nationalistic metropolis, and to examine the queasy nature of desire muddled with power.
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Mother Land

Mother Land

Leah Franqui

Fiction / Contemporary / Cultural

"Lively and evocative, Mother Land is a deftly crafted exploration of identity and culture, with memorable and deeply human characters who highlight how that which makes us different can ultimately unite us."—Amy Myerson, author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays and The ImperfectsFrom the critically acclaimed author of America for Beginners, a wonderfully insightful, witty, and heart-piercing novel, set in Mumbai, about an impulsive American woman, her headstrong Indian mother-in-law, and the unexpected twists and turns of life that bond them.When Rachel Meyer, a thirtysomething foodie from New York, agrees to move to Mumbai with her Indian-born husband, Dhruv, she knows some culture shock is inevitable. Blessed with a curious mind and an independent spirit, Rachel is determined to learn her way around the hot, noisy, seemingly infinite metropolis she now calls home. But the ex-pat American's sense...
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Pet

Pet

Akwaeke Emezi

Fiction / Cultural / Africa

The highly-anticipated, genre-defying new novel by award-winning author Akwaeke Emezi that explores themes of identity and justice. Pet is here to hunt a monster. Are you brave enough to look?There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster, and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also to uncover the truth, and the answer to the question—How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?Acclaimed novelist Akwaeke Emezi makes their riveting and timely young adult debut with a book that asks difficult questions about...
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Lonely Pride

Lonely Pride

Tricia McGill

Cultural / Australia / Historical / Historical Fiction

Sam fell in love with Mac at first sight when she was still a child and he a teenage boy, almost but not quite a man. A special bond formed between them, fueled by their mutual love of animals—especially horses. As each matured, that bond threatened to move beyond the limits of friendship. By the time Sam reached her 17th birthday she was desperately in love with him, her shining hero.Sam fell in love with Mac at first sight when she was still a child and he a teenage boy, almost but not quite a man. A special bond formed between them, fueled by their mutual love of animals—especially horses. As each matured, that bond threatened to move beyond the limits of friendship. By the time Sam reached her 17th birthday she was desperately in love with him, her shining hero. But one awful night Mac betrayed that love and Sam was unable to find it in her heart to forgive him. By the time the truth was revealed they had both moved on with their lives, and Sam’s pride prevented her from forgiving Mac; threatened to ensure her a lonely future. Book 1 in Tricia McGill's Beneath Southern Skies series now Free.Reviews“I was supposed to take the book on vacation with me, but I made the mistake of starting it and couldn’t stop until I finished–but then Tricia McGill is one of my favorite authors. She grabbed me from the beginning…emotional sparks were so real I felt the tension. I encountered an amazing range of emotions reading this book as I recalled my own childhood crushes, my broken hearts, the agony of losing someone I loved, and the joy of knowing real love. I enjoyed the ‘sex’ scenes that left enough to the imagination that I could personalize them for myself.Tricia McGill has an astounding way with words. Once you read her books, you’ll become an avid fan.” Brett Scott, TRS“Ms. McGill has written very real characters. You can relate to them and the problems they are dealing with. She has created a world that is believable. I love the scene of Mac telling Sam how he feels and she finally realizes what she felt all those years ago was that she hadn't wanted to grow up. She had wanted everything to stay the same. Ms. McGill tells a story that touches your heart.” Donna Fallen, Angels Reviews“Tricia McGill’s description of Mac’s struggles with his feelings makes the reader want to believe that chivalry is not dead after all. This book should be required reading by some of the young men of today.” Donna L. Zeller, KIC reviews
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The Crab-Flower Club

The Crab-Flower Club

Cao Xueqin

Classics / Fiction / Cultural

"The Story of the Stone" (c. 1760), also known as "The Dream of the Red Chamber", is one of the greatest novels of Chinese literature. The fifth part of Cao Xueqin's magnificent saga, "The Dreamer Awakes", was carefully edited and completed by Gao E some decades later. It continues the story of the changing fortunes of the Jia dynasty, focussing on Bao-yu, now married to Bao-chai, after the tragic death of his beloved Dai-yu. Against such worldly elements as death, financial ruin, marriage, decadence and corruption, his karmic journey unfolds. Like a sleepwalker through life, Bao-yu is finally awakened by a vision, which reveals to him that life itself is merely a dream, 'as moonlight mirrored in the water'.
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