Last Day In Paradise

Swisher's moving novel about the shrinking west, greed, love, devotion, and murder makes a statement that all mankind should have the right to live the way they choose and can work through their differences.

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers. “Good fishing and good writing use the same skills,” writes John Gierach, “whether you’re after a trout or a story, you won’t get that far with brute force. You’re better off to watch, wait, and remain calm…letting it all happen, rather than trying to make it happen.” As the wry and perceptive essays in Another Lousy Day in Paradise prove, Gierach knows his writing as well as his fishing. Paradise, Gierach shows us, is relative; it can be found in the guilty luxury of fishing private waters or when one is soaked to the skin, in a small canoe on a big lake in a storm a hundred miles from anywhere, exhilarated after a day’s fishing. There are also pleasures to be found in unexpected places: solitary fishing trips, fishing for less-appreciated fish like carp, or meeting a guide who at first seems like an inarticulate ax murderer but who proves to be a “Zen master among fishing guides.” The point is to let things unfold as they will—because after all, says Gierach, “Basically, the world is a big, dumb trout, and you’re a fisherman with all the time in the world.” As Gierach fans know, this is a description of paradise.

The raucously witty Yiddish classic about a Jewish Paradise afflicted by very human temptations and pains—a delightful new translation perfect for fans of Michael Chabon Witty, playful and slyly profound, this story of a young angel expelled from Paradise is the only novel by one of the great Yiddish writers, which was written just before the outbreak of World War II. As a result of a crafty trick, the expelled angel retains the memory of his previous life when he’s born as a Yiddish-fluent baby mortal on Earth. The humans around him plead for details of that other realm, but the Paradise of his mischievous stories is far from their expectations: a world of drunken angels, lewd patriarchs and the very same divisions and temptations that shape the human world. Published here in a lively new translation by Robert Adler Peckerar, The Book of Paradise is a comic masterpiece from poet-satirist Itzik Manger that irreverently blurs the boundaries between ancient and modern and sacred and profane, where the shtetl is heaven, and heaven is the shtetl.

The black-and-whites lay sprawled across my desktop: about two-dozen 8 x 10s, each taken through the grimy window of a cheap motel room, each depicting the unclad images of Mr. Ronald Hillard and his mistress—her long hair styled in thick braided cornrows. I glanced at the photos one last time and sighed. Mr. Hillard certainly has an unusual—some would say disturbing—style of lovemaking. Well, to each his own. My name is Cecelia Love but everyone calls me C. C. for short. I am a Private Investigator and solving crimes is my new profession.

A French bestseller and winner of the Le Monde Literary Prize. A “powerful, feverish” novel about a lineage of women possessed by their land (Femme Actuelle). Emilienne’s life is Paradise, her isolated farm at the end of a winding path. After the sudden death of her daughter and son-in-law, this is where she farms alone, with her courage and her land as her only resources, along with her two little grandchildren: Blanche and Gabriel. As seasons pass, Blanche grows older and develops an even stronger connection to her home and the generations of women who have guarded it, like her mother and grandmother before her. When she meets Alexandre, Blanche falls into a devastatingly deep love from which she can never recover. Alexandre, devoured by his ambition, wishes to move to the city to make a name for himself, while the passion Blanche dedicates to Paradise dominates her completely. Almost immediately, their differences become irreconcilable, tearing their worlds apart. Years later, when Alexandre shows up once again on her doorstep, ingratiating himself back into her life, Blanche believes that now she can finally be happy again. But all is not what it seems when there is a darkness lurking at every corner—and Blanche would do anything to protect Paradise. “Coulon’s new novel gives an enthralling voice to the rural world.” —La Croix “A harsh and combative novel which pays homage to the courage and persistence of women to stay alive and standing. Readers will emerge shattered and nourished with an undeniable and mysterious energy.” —Le Parisien “This sensual, bold novel will surprise and delight.” —Publishers Weekly “A quiet tale of love and vengeance.” —Kirkus Reviews

Sabah-taged is a further day-by-day account of an expedition made by Brian (of Brahmaputra fame), together with his wife Sandra – this time to the Sabah province of Borneo. It inevitably has similarities to the preceding books in the series (A Syria Situation and Brian on the Brahmaputra) in that it details not only the factual aspects of their excursion, but also Brian’s irreverent thoughts on all he observes. However, because Sabah has a unique mix of tropical flora and fauna, a unique situation in terms of its ‘development’ and a unique mix of peoples, it is actually a very different book indeed. The book describes Sabah’s wonderful natural environments and how these are under threat – or how they have already disappeared thanks to the ‘palm-oil’ rush. It paints a picture of its new holiday destinations, both on the mainland and on its offshore islands. It also provides a provocative insight into its local culture and its local cast of characters – whether of the endemic variety or otherwise. Sabah-taged therefore encapsulates such diverse topics as the joys of montane forests, the behaviour of orang-utans, the etiquette of sunbathing, the limited fashion potential of leech socks and the Darwinistic view of the development of Muslims and non-Muslims in a faith-focused world. It is the third book in David’s seven-part series that details Brian and Sandra’s travels to Assam, Syria, Borneo, Cape Verde, Namibia/Botswana and Morocco – and in due course, Zambia.

From an ex-con, ex-addict, and natural-born writer comes a gut-wrenching tale that is the literary cousin of "Pulp Fiction".