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LEGO: A Love Story
There are 62 LEGO bricks for every person in the world, and at age
30, Jonathan Bender realized that he didn’t have a single one of them.
While reconsidering his childhood dream of becoming a Master Model Builder for
The LEGO Group, he discovers the men and women who are skewing the averages
with collections of hundreds of thousands of LEGO bricks. What is it about the
ubiquitous, brightly-colored toys that makes them so hard for everyone to put
down. In search of answers and adventure, Jonathan Bender sets out to explore
the quirky world of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOL) while becoming a builder himself.
In the process he finds his LEGO journey enjoined with a second creative
endeavor—to have a child. His two worlds intertwine as he awaits the
outcome: Will he win a build competition or bring a new fan of LEGO into the
world? Like every really good love story, this one has surprises—and a
happy ending.Jonathan Bender is a contributor to The Onion, has sold humor pieces to the American Comedy Network, and has an extensive background in improvisational comedy. Bender has written for an eclectic list of newspapers and magazines, including the New York Post, Bust, Modern Bride, and Women’s Health. His work has also appeared online at Espn.com, Seriouseats.com, Urbandaddy.com, and MasterCard’s Priceless.com, and he blogs daily for the Kansas City Star. |
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THE MAGE IN BLACK
Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, the leader of the vampire race, just tried to kill her. When she arrives in New York to meet the mage side of her family, the reunion takes the fun out of dysfunctional. On top of that, the Hekate Council wants to use her as a pawn in the brewing war against the vampires. Her mission will take her into the bowels of New York's Black Light district, entangles her in mage politics, and challenges her beliefs about the race she was raised to distrust. And Sabina thought vampires were bloodthirsty.
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A THEORY OF ALL THINGS
A Theory of All Things is the story of a brilliant, fractured family, five grown siblings facing a number of simultaneous crises and haunted by past tragedy, the desertion of a mother and the suicide of a brother. By alternating between their unique voices, the hopes, memories, opinions and plans of each individual member come together to weave a single story of loss, renewal, and love."Quirky, funny and eminently readable." -- Kirkus Reviews "...Leon’s novel touches on very real familial issues yet maintains a playful tone." -- Publishers Weekly Peg Leon’s first novel, Mother Country, was published by Permanent Press in December 2003 and received good reviews from Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist. The novel was a BookSense 76 pick for February 2004, and was featured on NPR’s "Off the Page." She has a Masters in Literature from University of California at Santa Barbara. |
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STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
In Straight Down the Middle, Josh Karp
takes on a quest of gigantic proportions. An 18 handicap still struggling to
reconcile his adult responsibilities with the needs of the teenager in his
head, Karp sets off to find both his authentic swing and true self, using the
fairways and greens as his Walden Pond. He undertakes a strict regimen of
meditation and spiritual cleansing before playing rounds with the games
mystics, astrophysicists and shamans, hoping to locate that authentic swing and
sorting out the charlatans from the genuine Shiva Irons and Bagger Vances along
the way.Josh Karp is a Chicago-based writer/journalist and teaches journalism at Northwestern University. He has written for Salon, Playboy, TimeOut New York, LA Times, and many other magazines and newspapers. His first book, A Futile and Stupid Gesture, was published in September 2006 by Chicago Review Press. |
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THREE DAYS TO DEAD
When Evangeline Stone wakes up naked and bruised on a cold slab in a morgue
- in a stranger's body, with no memory of who she is and how she got there -
her troubles are only just beginning. Before that night she and the other
two members of her Triad were the city's star bounty hunters, mercilessly
cleansing the city of the murderous creatures living in the shadows, from
vampires to shape-shifters to trolls. Then something terrible happened that
not only cost all three of them their lives but also convinced the city's
other Hunters that Evy was a traitor - and she can't remember what it was.Now she's a fugitive, piecing together her memory, trying to deal some serious justice - and discovering that she only has three days to solve her own murder before the reincarnation spell wears off. Because in three days Evy will die again - but this time there's no second chance. “Gritty, imaginative, and a terrific read.” -- Patricia Briggs, New York Times Bestselling author of Bone Crossed |
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WORMWOOD, NEVADA
Tyler and Anna Mayfield have just relocated from Nebraska to the sun
scorched desert town of Wormwood, Nevada. They find themselves in a strange
new landscape populated with old school cowboys, alien cultists, meth
dealers, and doomsday prophets. Loneliness and desperation pervade Wormwood,
and when a meteorite lands in the center of town, its fragile existence
begins to unravel as many believe the end of the world is near, while others
simply seek a reason to believe in anything at all.David Oppegaard was a 2008 Bram Stoker Award Finalist for his first novel, The Suicide Collectors. |
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HOLLY’S INBOX
It's her first day as a receptionist at a London investment bank and inexperienced Holly Denham is struggling. How's a working girl supposed to have a love life with a demanding job, crazy friends, a dysfunctional family, and gossipy colleagues? Not to mention that Holly's been keeping a secret from everyone - and the past is about to catch up with her. An affair with a sexy VP heats things up at the office, but when Holly's first flame gets a job at the same company, complications abound and Holly's inbox becomes a daily source of drama, laughter and scandal.Repeatedly compared to Bridget Jones' Diary, www.hollysinbox.com has become a website phenomenon, with thousands of daily visitors from all over the world. This novel tells Holly's story in full, and also includes exclusive extra material not available on the site. “Fantastic.” -- OK! Magazine, 4 stars. Author interview in Entertainment Weekly. |
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A PROPER EDUCATION OF GIRLS
After the death of their mother and sister, twins Lillian and Alice are forced by their authoritarian iron baron father to become curators for his huge personal museum of objects collecting in their mansion. After a brief affair with one of her father’s guests, beautiful Lillian has fallen from grace and has been dispatched to India as the wife of Selwyn Fraser, a limp and ineffectual missionary. Lillian soon discovers that India provides a perfect opportunity to shrug off the oppressions of Victorian society, while back at home Alice becomes more subjugated each day by her father and his like-minded friends. A Proper Education of Girls explores with both humor and vigor the themes of art and nature, science and progress, and femininity and female beauty through the lens of two women trapped in cages set forth by a Victorian society filled with hypocrisy.“A rollicking good time that does not take itself too seriously.” -- Kirkus Reviews. |
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RED-HEADED STEPCHILD
In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her--until now.“Brassy, sassy, and hip! Wells' promising debut is a fast-paced trip through a dark and dangerous landscape featuring an unusual take on vampires, mages, faeries, and demons. It hooks you on page one and takes you for a great ride!” -- Kat Richardson, bestselling author of the Greywalker series. |
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I AM A MAN
Weaving together both historical documents and oral history from the end of the 19th century, Pulitzer Prize finalist Starita tells the story of the Ponca Indians and their leader Chief Standing Bear's efforts to achieve justice from an American government that pushed them off their land in its efforts to fulfill Manifest Destiny.“Journalist Starita masterfully portrays the chief’s story in this compelling narrative of injustices finally righted… an engaging yarn, full of drama and sudden revelations.” -- Publishers Weekly. |
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WRAPPED IN GEMS
In Wrapped in Gems, jewelry designer Mai Sato-Flores shows readers how to translate the images they find in nature into artfully crafted jewelry. She presents patterns for 40 different wire-wrapped gemstone creations, including necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings that even an inexperienced jewelry maker can follow.
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THE SUICIDE COLLECTORS
In a near future where ninety percent of the earth’s population has committed suicide, a man named Norman travels across a wild and dangerous North America in search of a cure."Just when it seems that there are no new plots left to write about, David Oppegaard has come up with a doozy. His The Suicide Collectors takes us to a startling theme we haven't encountered before, with every page a thrilling new surprise." -- Stan Lee, Marvel Comics creator of SPIDERMAN, THE HULK, X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR. “Eloquent prose and haunting characters lift Oppegaard’s astonishing debut…” -- Publishers Weekly (starred review). |
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JETPACK DREAMS: One Man’s Up and Down (but Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was
A hilarious pop-socio-cultural history of the greatest invention that never was, the jetpack, and a participatory journey through the bizarre subculture of jetpack enthusiasts in search of a working model."Reading this book is as fun as zooming through the sky with a rocket on your back. And better yet, you won't break your collarbone doing it." -- A.J. Jacobs, bestselling author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically. “This snappily written, often funny book should attract dreamers of both sexes and all ages.” -- Publishers Weekly. |
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COOK UP YOUR OWN COOKBOOK
This book-shaped kit provides the guidance needed to create your own family heirloom cookbook. It also includes handy “short-cut” tools and a project timeline for keeping the cookbook author motivated and inspired, whether she’s planning to create a one-of-kind scrapbook or print multiple copies for everyone in the family.
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DAMNATION FALLS
In this Los Angeles Times bestseller and Barry Award winner, “the nature of truth, the minefield of emotions between fathers and sons, and the madness of vengeance converge… Wright captures the rich, earthy essence of the South and wraps up his story with a sweet coda, all the more touching for being understated.” -- Publishers Weekly.
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WASHINGTON IRVING: American Celebrity
In brilliant, meticulous strokes Brian Jay Jones renders Washington Irving in all his flawed splendor - someone who fretted about money and employment, suffered from writer’s block, and doggedly cultivated his reputation. Jones offers as never before a very human portrait of the often contrasting public and private lives of this true American original.“...the definitive Irving biography for the current generation ... In more ways than one, Irving remains a superstar one that Brian Jay Jones does proud.” -- The Providence Journal. “Required reading.” -- New York Post. |
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WHEN CHARLOTTE COMES HOME
Unspoken and unrequited love, loss of life and loss of innocence, facing change and changing times are the elements of this subtle and beautifully written novel of regret and redemption. Winner of the 2007 Minnesota Book Award.
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OAKLAND, JACK LONDON, AND ME
Pen/Hemingway Award Finalist Williamson examines not only the life and work of Jack London, but his own life and attitudes toward the poor, toward London, Oakland, culture, and literature. A blend of autobiography, criticism, scholarship, and polemic, Oakland, Jack London, and Me is an insightful look into one of America’s greatest writers.
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THE MAN IN THE GREY FLANNEL SUIT
Universally acclaimed when it was first published in 1955, The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit captured the mood of a generation. Its title — like Catch-22 and Fahrenheit 451 — has become a part of America’s cultural vocabulary. This is Sloan Wilson’s searing indictment of a society that had just begun to lose touch with its citizens.
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