Entranced By Story

We live in a world of stories; yet few of us pause to ask what stories actually are, why we consume them so avidly, and what they do for story makers and their audiences. This book focuses on the experiences that good stories generate: feelings of purposeful involvement, elevation, temporary loss of self, vicarious emotion, and relief of tension. The author examines what drives writers to create stories and why readers fall under their spell; why some children grow up to be writers; and how the capacity for creating and comprehending stories develops from infancy right through into old age. Entranced by Story applies recent research on brain function to literary examples ranging from the Iliad and Wuthering Heights to Harold and the Purple Crayon, providing a groundbreaking exploration of the biological and neurological basis of the literary experience. Blending research, theory, and biographical anecdote, the author shows how it is the unique structure of the human brain, with its layering of sophisticated cognitive capacities upon archaic, emotion-driven functions, which best explains the mystery of story.

We live in a world of stories; yet few of us pause to ask what stories actually are, why we consume them so avidly, and what they do for story makers and their audiences. This book focuses on the experiences that good stories generate: feelings of purposeful involvement, elevation, temporary loss of self, vicarious emotion, and relief of tension. The author examines what drives writers to create stories and why readers fall under their spell; why some children grow up to be writers; and how the capacity for creating and comprehending stories develops from infancy right through into old age. Entranced by Story applies recent research on brain function to literary examples ranging from the Iliad and Wuthering Heights to Harold and the Purple Crayon, providing a groundbreaking exploration of the biological and neurological basis of the literary experience. Blending research, theory, and biographical anecdote, the author shows how it is the unique structure of the human brain, with its layering of sophisticated cognitive capacities upon archaic, emotion-driven functions, which best explains the mystery of story.

We live in a world of stories; yet few of us pause to ask what stories actually are, why we consume them so avidly, and what they do for story makers and their audiences. This book focuses on the experiences that good stories generate: feelings of purposeful involvement, elevation, temporary loss of self, vicarious emotion, and relief of tension. The author examines what drives writers to create stories and why readers fall under their spell; why some children grow up to be writers; and how the capacity for creating and comprehending stories develops from infancy right through into old age. Entranced by Storyapplies recent research on brain function to literary examples ranging from the Iliadand Wuthering Heightsto Harold and the Purple Crayon, providing a groundbreaking exploration of the biological and neurological basis of the literary experience. Blending research, theory, and biographical anecdote, the author shows how it is the unique structure of the human brain, with its layering of sophisticated cognitive capacities upon archaic, emotion-driven functions, which best explains the mystery of story. and biographical anecdote, the author shows how it is the unique structure of the human brain, with its layering of sophisticated cognitive capacities upon archaic, emotion-driven functions, which best explains the mystery of story.

The Donovan Legacy continues in Entranced, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts’ mesmerizing novel about a headstrong detective expanding her mind to paranormal possibilities while opening her hardened heart to love. Tough and tenacious, Mary Ellen Sutherland is a private investigator who never gives up on a case or a friend in need. When her friend’s baby is abducted and every clue leads to a dead end, Mel reluctantly turns to Sebastian Donovan, a psychic reputed to possess extraordinary abilities. Despite her skepticism, Sebastian proves to be amazingly gifted—especially when it comes to enchanting Mel, body and soul.

Have you ever loved anyone so much that you'd give them up at the expense of your own happiness?No? Well, I did.Okay, that's not the first lie I've ever told myself. I fought tooth and nail for the only man I'll ever love, but in the end, I had to concede defeat.Even now, seven years later, the cruel words Ryker uttered the morning after he took my virginity still wield the power to shatter the remains of my heart. Yet fate has a way of shaping our lives.No matter how hard we fight for a different outcome.Have you ever feared losing someone so much you'd give up the only woman who made your heart race?No? Well, I have.She holds the power to bring my entire world crashing down, which is why I've spent the last seven years forgetting she exists.And until today, I'd succeeded. But time isn't a healer, she's a cruel mistress.One who won't be ignored.Entranced is the first book in a brand-new six-part billionaire romance series from International Bestselling Author Tracie Delaney.

Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and A Court of Thorns and Roses, this romantic series about a mortal girl and her dealings with a roguish Fae Prince will keep you turning pages late into the night! Never Anger the Fae. Never Trust the Fae. Never Love the Fae. Clara is an Obligate-a human servant at the Court of Dawn. She doesn't know why. She knows only that she broke the Pledge and must therefore spend her days obliging the every whim of a capricious fae princess. If she can keep her head down and follow the rules, she might survive to the end of her Obligation. But how can she stop devastatingly beautiful Lord Ivor from looking at her in that special way that makes her heart stutter? And how can she avoid the jealous fury of Princess Estrilde, who seeks to claim Lord Ivor for herself? Most of all, how can she elude the conniving Prince of the Doomed City . . . who is determined to buy her Obligation for his own dark purposes? Do you love all the lethal intrigues of a twisted fae court? Then don't miss Entranced, book 1 of the Prince of the Doomed City series. Bargains and treachery abound in this tale of slow-burn romance and heart-pounding adventure.

Sometimes love is hiding in the unlikeliest of earls... Evelyn Thorncroft wants to marry a duke, but she'll settle for an earl. The Earl of Hawkridge, to be precise. The only problem? Weston cannot stand the sight of her. At least, that's what he says. Their passionate kisses, however, tell a very different story... From the first moment he sees Evie across a crowded ballroom, Weston desires her. The dark-haired American is beautiful, intelligent, and charming. The only problem? She's a money-grubbing hoyden after his family's fortune. At least, that's what Weston tells himself. His heart, however, tells a very different story... Trapped under the same roof during a house party, Evie and Weston struggle to control their blistering chemistry. Neither are looking for love, and past hurts have made them far too cynical to believe in happily-ever-after. But when two wounded hearts (and an orphaned lamb) are involved, anything is possible...including true love. The Perks of Being an Heiress Bewitched by the Bluestocking Entranced by the Earl Seduced by the Scot Wooed by the Wallflower

An invitation to readers from every walk of life to rediscover the impractical splendors of a life of learning In an overloaded, superficial, technological world, in which almost everything and everybody is judged by its usefulness, where can we turn for escape, lasting pleasure, contemplation, or connection to others? While many forms of leisure meet these needs, Zena Hitz writes, few experiences are so fulfilling as the inner life, whether that of a bookworm, an amateur astronomer, a birdwatcher, or someone who takes a deep interest in one of countless other subjects. Drawing on inspiring examples, from Socrates and Augustine to Malcolm X and Elena Ferrante, and from films to Hitz's own experiences as someone who walked away from elite university life in search of greater fulfillment, Lost in Thought is a passionate and timely reminder that a rich life is a life rich in thought. Today, when even the humanities are often defended only for their economic or political usefulness, Hitz says our intellectual lives are valuable not despite but because of their practical uselessness. And while anyone can have an intellectual life, she encourages academics in particular to get back in touch with the desire to learn for its own sake, and calls on universities to return to the person-to-person transmission of the habits of mind and heart that bring out the best in us. Reminding us of who we once were and who we might become, Lost in Thought is a moving account of why renewing our inner lives is fundamental to preserving our humanity.