Oops! How to Rock the Mother of All Surprises


Book Description

"Ready or not, here comes baby! Talk about a bump in the road. Whether you were waiting until "the right time" to have kids or hoped and pleaded the day wouldn't come, you'll breathe a sigh of relief when you flip through Oops! In this collection of humorous essays, Jezebel.com blogger Tracy Moore shares her personal experiences with jumping headfirst into motherhood--without a clue what she was doing. Unexpectedly pregnant at thirty-three, Moore's life completely changed when she had to give up her beloved cigarettes and cold deli meats and quickly learn how to care for the little bundle of (ahem) joy growing inside her. Her honest advice will help you cope with all the changes and feelings that will occur on your way to parenthood. From stockpiling baby supplies in just a few months to being the lone sober one at a party, this book answers all your questions and braces you for the unexpected.




Why Knocked Up?


Book Description

Why Knocked Up? The Paradox of Sex, Magical Thinking, and Accidental Pregnancy in This Age of Contraception. The United States birth rates are at record lows, yet our rates of accidental pregnancy are still sky high1 out of 2-- is unplanned, unwanted. Peeling back the layers of conflict, denial, hope, dreams, and myths about pregnancy, this provocative book unravels the paradox of why we have so much Knocked Up pregnancy even though contraceptives are readily available. Dr. Cassell illustrates how magical thinking about sex and our cultures quirky sexual norms--combined with the far-rights efforts to block contraception, abortion, and sex education escalates the crisis. She uniquely describes the Knocked Up Paradox as a Black Elephant--a cross between a black swan (an unexpected event with huge complications) and the elephant in the room (a problem no one wants to admit is there). She delivers a powerful argument as to why unwanted pregnancy merits our concern even if we arent directly involved: we all pay a high price dealing with the complex tangle of personal dilemmas and the domino effect on families it creates. Cassell assures us that reducing Knocked Up pregnancies isnt a hopeless challenge and endorses a range of effective and edgy resolutions.




The 30 Rock Book


Book Description

The hilarious true story of the making of the cult classic hit show 30 Rock It’s hard to remember a time when Tina Fey wasn’t a star, but back in the early 2000s, she was an SNL writer who was far from a household name. It’s even harder to remember when Fey’s sitcom 30 Rock was tanking, but it was—it premiered in the fall of 2006, and by November, the New York Times wrote that 30 Rock was “perilously close to a flop.” But despite all expectations (including those of some of the cast and crew), Tina Fey’s eccentric buddy comedy lasted 138 episodes, spanning seven seasons. It resurrected the career of Alec Baldwin, survived an extended absence by Tracy Morgan, and permeated the culture— its breakneck pacing, oddball characters, and extremely rich joke writing are deeply beloved by millions of fans. Through more than fifty original interviews with cast, crew, critics, and more, culture writer Mike Roe brings to life the history of the gloriously goofy show that became an all-time classic. The 30 Rock Book has everything in it, from tales of the amazing music still stuck in our heads, to the iconic bit characters that make the show, to all the love and drama of the backstage crew . . . and the creative failures and successes along the way. So grab your night cheese and muffin tops, cuddle up with your slanket against your Japanese body pillow, and settle in for the story of one of the funniest shows in television history.




Becoming Mother


Book Description

"Becoming Mother" tells the story of a woman becoming a mother. It is a reflective memoir that spans from pregnancy through the end of the first year postpartum. It follows the author as she resists, denies, copes with, and ultimately embraces her identity as a mother. This isn't a guide or a parenting book. Its goal isn't to convert you to one brand of motherhood or another. Instead, its goal is to show you what becoming a mother can be like. Without sarcasm. Without boasting or martyrdom. Just the plain, messy truth of what it's like for one to become two.




Worldship Files: Morrigan


Book Description

When the Earth is threatened by a slowly expanding sun, mankind embarks upon a mission to send a mammoth Worldship to settle a new planet across the stars. The preternatural races step out of hiding to work with the humans to save what they can from their dying world. With the aid of the Fae, shape shifters, Vampires, and other creatures of supernatural lore, the Worldship, Leviathan, is complete one thousand years later. With the Worldship adding the wayward Cityships to the slowly evolving fleet, it quickly becomes apparent that there will not be enough raw materials and supplies to make it to their new home without the sacrifice of thousands. Knith leads a small crew on a volunteer mission, offworld, to acquire what they need... a new heart for the Leviathan. What starts as wonder, being the first human to set foot on a new world, quickly becomes a fight for survival.




Before We Were Strangers


Book Description

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years after they were separated in New York City. To the Green-eyed Lovebird: We met fifteen years ago, almost to the day, when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House. You called us fast friends. I like to think it was more. We lived on nothing but the excitement of finding ourselves through music (you were obsessed with Jeff Buckley), photography (I couldn’t stop taking pictures of you), hanging out in Washington Square Park, and all the weird things we did to make money. I learned more about myself that year than any other. Yet, somehow, it all fell apart. We lost touch the summer after graduation when I went to South America to work for National Geographic. When I came back, you were gone. A part of me still wonders if I pushed you too hard after the wedding… I didn’t see you again until a month ago. It was a Wednesday. You were rocking back on your heels, balancing on that thick yellow line that runs along the subway platform, waiting for the F train. I didn’t know it was you until it was too late, and then you were gone. Again. You said my name; I saw it on your lips. I tried to will the train to stop, just so I could say hello. After seeing you, all of the youthful feelings and memories came flooding back to me, and now I’ve spent the better part of a month wondering what your life is like. I might be totally out of my mind, but would you like to get a drink with me and catch up on the last decade and a half? M




All Music Guide to Soul


Book Description

With informative biographies, essays, and "music maps, " this book is the ultimate guide to the best recordings in rhythm and blues. 20 charts.




The Rancher's Surprise Son


Book Description

The Little Boy Had His Eyes Cody Masters always believed that nothing could keep him and his high school sweetheart, Laura Duke, apart. Not her parents, not town gossip--not even a jail sentence! But when the cowboy returns home, he finds a new man in Laura's life. Johnny is three-and-a-half-feet tall, adores his pony and stares back at Cody with all-too-familiar blue eyes... The Mother Had His Heart Even though Laura insists a quickie marriage produced Johnny, Cody isn't giving up on his dream of their family. The only problem is getting her--and the rest of the town--to trust him again. Besides, Laura is harboring a secret that is keeping them apart, but could also bond them, and little Johnny, forever!




Naptime with Joey


Book Description

From viral Instagram sensation, lifestyle photographer, and mommy blogger Laura Izumikawa comes Naptime with Joey, a ridiculously delightful photo book of her now internet-famous daughter dressed up in various pop culture costumes—a perfect gift for new parents everywhere. Lights, Camera…Nap! Joey Marie wears many hats (or, rather, wigs): she’s dressed up as Inigo Montoya, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Pikachu, Anna Wintour, Moana, and Barb from Stranger Things. She’s taken trips to Hawaii, baked croissants, and blasted off to the moon as an astronaut (at least, in her dreams). She’s held occupations such as pizza chef, aerobics instructor, and handy-dandy-fixer-upper (figuratively, of course). She’s inspired a parenting blog, been the face of her mom Laura Izumikawa’s Instagram account—and for the first time, she’s taken the leap from the ranks of internet-baby-snoredom to the pages of a book. Naptime with Joey is chockablock full of over a hundred deliciously adorable photos of Joey dressed up as various pop culture characters, movie stars, musicians, vacationers, and holiday-goers, making this the most fun, festive, and downright delightful gift under the sun!




Touchpoints-Three to Six


Book Description

For decades, new parents have relied on Dr. Brazelton's wisdom. But all "Brazelton babies" grow up. Now at last, the internationally famous pediatrician, in collaboration with an eminent child psychiatrist, has brought his unique insights to the "magic" preschool and first-grade years.Through delightful profiles of four very different children, the authors apply the touchpoints theory (following the pattern of growth-new challenge-reegression-recharging-and renewed growth) to each of the great cognitive, behavioral, and emotional leaps that occur from age three to six. In the second, alphabetical, half of the book they offer precious guidance to parents facing contemporary pressures and stresses, such as how to keep a child safe without instilling fear, countering the electronic barrage of violent games and marketing aimed at children, coping successfully with varied family configurations, over-scheduling, competition, and many other vital issues today. A Merloyd Lawrence Book