A collection of short stories and odd tales. It rules. And it looks nifty. And it makes people love you. Honest. And it features cover art by John Lurie. How hard does that rule?

Unexpectedly suspenseful, but written with all the fluency and dark humor of Tom Perrotta's The Wishbones and Joe College, Little Children exposes the adult dramas unfolding amidst the swingsets and slides of an ordinary American playground. Tom Perrotta's thirty-ish parents of young children are a varied and surprising bunch. There's Todd, the handsome stay-at-home dad dubbed "The Prom King" by the moms of the playground; Sarah, a lapsed feminist with a bisexual past, who seems to have stumbled into a traditional marriage; Richard, Sarah's husband, who has found himself more and more involved with a fantasy life on the internet than with the flesh and blood in his own house; and Mary Ann, who thinks she has it all figured out, down to scheduling a weekly roll in the hay with her husband, every Tuesday at 9pm. They all raise their kids in the kind of sleepy American suburb where nothing ever seems to happen--at least until one eventful summer, when a convicted child molester moves back to town, and two restless parents begin an affair that goes further than either of them could have imagined. Perrotta received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for best screenplay for the film adaptation of Little Children, which was directed by Todd Field and starred Kate Winslet and Jennifer Connelly.

A runaway international bestseller and winner of Spain’s top literary prize, Little Indiscretions is part ingeniously entertaining whodunit and part sparkling social satire. Business is slow for Nestor Chaffino, pastry chef to the rich and famous, until he’s invited to cater a party in a villa on the Costa del Sol. When Nestor is found frozen to death in a walk-in freezer with a notebook in his hand, the party guests gathered that evening are the natural suspects. But who could have it in for a harmless cook? The answer, it turns out, is just about everyone who happens to be staying in the house. Nestor, while quietly stirring his sauces and whisking his egg whites, had decided to publish a compendium of gastronomic secrets that revealed, along with the culinary tricks of his trade, more than a few damning details of the hosts’ and houseguests’ private lives. To what lengths would they go to ensure that Nestor maintained a more permanent sense of discretion? Not since Nick and Nora Charles’s last cocktail party has such a merry band of mischief makers convened in one place. Little Indiscretions marks the discovery of a phenomenal writer with tremendous flair. It’s a gourmet treat readers will pounce on.

The second heart-stopping, mind-blowing book in this killer series from the author of the best-selling Young Bond series, and award-winning comedy writer and performer (The Fast Show, Down the Line), Charlie Higson. A terrible disease is striking everyone over the age of fourteen. Death walks the streets. Nowhere is safe. Maxie, Blue and the rest of the Holloway crew aren't the only kids trying to escape the ferocious adults who prey on them. Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of other kids - nerds, fighters, misfits. And one adult. Greg, a butcher, who claims he's immune to the disease. They must work together if they want to make it in this terrifying new world. But as a fresh disaster threatens to overwhelm London, they realize they won't all survive 'Lord of the Flies with zombies ... tons of nail-biting action' - Rick Riordan, creator of Percy Jackson

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . The Enemy (Book 1) When the sickness came, every parent, police officer, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. A gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. The Dead (Book 2) Jack and Ed are best friends, but their battle to stay alive tests their friendship to the limit as they go on the run with a mismatched group of other kids. And one adult. Greg, a butcher, who claims he's immune to the disease. As a fresh disaster threatens to overwhelm London, they realize they won't all survive... The Fear (Book 3) DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, and set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?

The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years - except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in this divinely hilarious, yet heartfelt work 'reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams' (Philadelphia Inquirer). Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes, Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Saviour's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more - except maybe 'Maggie,' Mary of Magdala - and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.

A penetrating analysis from one of the defining voices of contemporary economics. In Beyond Positivism, Behaviorism, and Neoinstitutionalism in Economics, Deirdre Nansen McCloskey zeroes in on the authoritarian cast of recent economics, arguing for a re-focusing on the liberated human. The behaviorist positivism fashionable in the field since the 1930s treats people from the outside. It yielded in Williamson and North a manipulative neo-institutionalism. McCloskey argues that institutions as causes are mainly temporary and intermediate, not ultimate. They are human-made, depending on words, myth, ethics, ideology, history, identity, professionalism, gossip, movies, what your mother taught you. Humans create conversations as they go, in the economy as in the rest of life. In engaging and erudite prose, McCloskey exhibits in detail the scientific failures of neo-institutionalism. She proposes a “humanomics,” an economics with the humans left in. Humanomics keeps theory, quantification, experiment, mathematics, econometrics, though insisting on more true rigor than is usual. It adds what can be learned about the economy from history, philosophy, literature, and all the sciences of humans. McCloskey reaffirms the durability of “market-tested innovation” against the imagined imperfections to be corrected by a perfect government. With her trademark zeal and incisive wit, she rebuilds the foundations of economics.

The story of a soldier on the run from the US army; down on his luck when he sees this beautiful lady coming out of the grocery store she drops an item and he rushes to her aid. he is about to rob a bank when someone else comes along and is tries to rob it first; he rushes over to the bank and tells the manager the bank is about to be hit; it is, but he saves the day; the bank manager is so great full he offers him a job; what kind of job; well one where he has to look after this beautiful young niece of his; to help her get back on her feet; on a ranch out in the wilderness of Utah , apparently she is more than a bit of a handful as she is a terrible one for the men. needless to say they come together but combination of the two is dynamite a lot of what they hold dear is blown apart as is everything and everyone else they touch.

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.