Oh, What an Awful Mess


Book Description

A brief biography of the man who discovered a way to make useful, durable items from rubber.




The Ballad of Emma O'Toole


Book Description

High stakes marriage After shooting a man, the stakes for gambler Logan Devereaux have never been higher. On trial for his life, he's offered a shocking alternate form of restitution…marriage to his victim's pregnant sweetheart! Beautiful Emma O'Toole has sworn vengeance against him—and when a newspaper man puts her tragic story to song, the whole nation waits to see what she'll do. Their marriage is the riskiest gamble Logan's ever taken. But he'll put everything he's got on the line for a chance at winning Emma's heart.




The Young O'Briens


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Alan Ayckbourn Plays 5


Book Description

Snake in the Grass A terrific piece - brilliant, bizarre and yet totally believable . . . In fact, it's more than classic; it's close to the top of its class. Yorkshire Post If I Were You A blissfully funny comedy that's also filled with sadness, a devilishly simple theatrical idea that spins out all kinds of complex truths about human nature. Daily Telegraph Life and Beth A wise, humane, funny play about the inevitability of death and the continuity of life. Guardian My Wonderful Day A transformation happens as magical as the most magnificent pantomime transformation anyone could ever imagine . . . the playwright dissolves the paraphernalia of our adult selves and uncovers that space inside each of us that is still the child we once were. Observer Life of Riley As perceptive as ever . . . Ayckbourn has once again achieved a satisfyingly rich, tragi-comic complexity. Daily Telegraph




The Hireling


Book Description

Overcome with grief at her husband's death, Lady Franklin, an eligible young widow, unburdens herself to Leadbitter - a gallant, hard-bitten ex-soldier who has invested his savings in the car he drives for hire - as he takes her on a series of journeys. He in turn beguiles her with stories of his non-existent wife and children, drawing her out of her self-absorption and weaving a dream-life with Lady Franklin at its heart. Half-hoping to make his dream come true, Leadbitter takes a bold, not to say reckless, step which costs him dearly, and brings these characters' tangled story to a dramatic and unexpected conclusion.




The young O'briens


Book Description

" Inside the hired omnibus there was a dead silence. Outside the rain lashed drearily against the window panes. From the corner where Molly sat there came a dismal, despairing sniffle, drowned, before its finish, by Denis's superlatively cheerful voice. "Sure, 'tis a rough night entirely!" he observed airily. Nell gave a sudden quick little laugh with a queer end to it. "So it is!" she said, and her effort after cheerfulness gave the remark a surprised tone, as if she had not noticed before that the night was rough. Sheila Pat sat silent in her corner, her slim little body stiff and erect, a bag and a box clutched tight in her small arms. Afterwards, later that night, she found that her arms ached. There was desperation in that tight clutch of the bag and the box. Suddenly Mr. O'Brien spoke; he recognised the futility of ignoring what was in everyone's mind. "Well," he said, "a year soon passes, after all, and I hope we shall be back in about ten or eleven months." "But—but not—" came a watery stammer from Molly's corner, but Nell broke in hurriedly. "I—I wonder will you look different, dad?" "Oh, yes," her mother laughed the pretty laugh that was just like Nell's, "I shall be a horrid, stout old woman! Even Sheila Pat won't acknowledge me then!" Sheila Pat said nothing......"




Bulletin


Book Description




The Celebrity


Book Description

Caught Between a Charade and the Truth. Jamie D. Lane is many things: multi-talented, handsome–and the most sought-after pop star in the world. But there’s one thing he isn’t–happy. At the height of his singing career, a family tragedy stops him in his tracks. And in an effort to settle a private matter and put the past behind him, Jamie cuts his trademark blonde curls, assumes a new identity, and secretly slips away from his celebrity lifestyle and heads to the Pacific Northwest in cognito. But what he finds in small town Washington could open up Jamie’s future–and change him forever. A teacher to inner city kids and former high school track star, Anne Stewart had once believed she could change the world. Then a near-fatal accident left her grappling with both the devastating effects of head injury and deep bitterness toward the drunk driver who crippled her. When a man she knows as “Joe Bradley” hits town, however, he unexpectedly helps to restore her self-confidence and passion for life. But when the scope of The Celebrity’s deception becomes clear to Anne, will it be too much to forgive? Can The Celebrity Reveal His True Identity– Without Losing Everything? From the Trade Paperback edition.




The Greatest Romance Classics of All Time


Book Description

The Greatest Romance Classics of All Time is an unparalleled collection that spans centuries, continents, and the wide expanse of the human heart. Within its pages, readers will find a rich mosaic of literary stylesfrom the keen social observations of Jane Austen to the passionate intensity of Emily Brontë, and from the intricate psychological depth of Henry James to the timeless tragedies of William Shakespeare. This anthology not only showcases the evolution of romantic literature but also highlights its enduring relevance, presenting standout pieces that have shaped and reflected societies' understanding of love, loss, and longing. The diversity of narratives, including the comedic genius of P.G. Wodehouse and the pioneering science fiction of H.G. Wells, further enriches the collection, providing a comprehensive overview of romance's multifaceted nature. The authors and editors represented in this collection bring a wealth of backgrounds, perspectives, and cultural insights, contributing to a vibrant tapestry that spans from the 18th to the 20th century. Their collective works resonate with historical, cultural, and literary movementsfrom the darkly introspective Gothic novel to the morally intricate narratives of the Victorian era and the exploration of modern consciousness. By weaving together such varied voices, the anthology offers a unique lens through which to explore the evolution of romantic ideals, societal norms, and the very concept of love itself. This confluence of literary giants not only illuminates the cultural contexts of their times but also provides timeless reflections on human nature and relationships. The Greatest Romance Classics of All Time is a must-read for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the profound depths and exhilarating heights of romantic literature. Offering an exceptional opportunity to explore a multitude of perspectives and styles within a single volume, this collection serves as both an invaluable educational resource and a source of endless inspiration. Readers are encouraged to delve into these pages to discover the rich dialogue between different authors works, gaining insights into the complexities of love and the human condition. This anthology is an invitation to witness the power of romance to transcend time and place, connecting readers across generations through the universal language of love.




O Love How Deep


Book Description

The autobiographical novel O Love How Deep by Diana Maryon contains striking insights into relations between the sexes, Christian discipleship, and mastering disappointment. I hope that I shall see it in print in some form in due course. J.I. Packer, Author and Theologian "I knew from the first 100 pages that I was going to be enthralled with this story, and so I was, right to the end. I literally couldn't put it down. Of course, it doesn't seem like the end because I still want to know more about Hope. The loving portraits of the authors two children were the highlight for me. Why that is so, I don't know. Perhaps the honesty about motherhood. It is a fine adult-Christian book and should enjoy a wide readership." Mary Razzell, Author After twenty-six-year-old Australian David Carpenter, a psychiatrist and neurological researcher himself, had a breakdown in his first year at Cambridge, his therapist told him, Go into the Anglican Chaplaincy, investigate Christianity, and have a love-affair with a nice Christian girl. He did precisely that. Diana was only twenty. They grew so close that when, after four years, she married someone else, he returned home devastated. They did not meet again for eight years. He realised then that he still loved her, and she him. He asked her to break her marriage for him. Instead, she sent him away indefinitely. In her last letter she begged him to give her up. She said that Oxford had rejected her dissertation. She was thirty-three, with her academic career now shattered. This is the poignant true story of three hyper-intelligent, cosmopolitan, and highly-educated people fighting their way through to genuine faith, hope and love in the modern world.