The Palace Of Laughter

Living a difficult life as an orphaned child, Miles finds new happiness when he is suddenly befriended by Little, a charming girl with wings who performs for the local circus, and works with her to rescue two friends who have been kidnapped and locked away in the Palace of Laughter. Reprint.

The grand finale to Miles's spectacular adventures Miles Wednesday is suddenly at the wheel of a great voyage. Determined to recover the stolen Tiger's Egg and free the trapped soul within, Miles sets off with his Song Angel friend, Little, and the wisecracking blind explorer Baltinglass of Araby across sea and desert to the home of Miles's aunt Nura, who may be their only hope in releasing the stone's true power. Their travels are riddled with thrills and near catastrophes, but most threatening is a dark Sleep Angel who's descended from the Realm to seize the Egg or forfeit Miles's life. Will Miles crack the secrets of the Egg and stand up to the Realm before he faces grave danger? And, above all, will he ever be able to bring back his father?

"An absolutely dazzling entertainment. . . . Arousing on every level—political, erotic, intellectual, and above all, humorous." —Newsweek "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting calls itself a novel, although it is part fairy tale, part literary criticism, part political tract, part musicology, and part autobiography. It can call itself whatever it wants to, because the whole is genius." —New York Times Rich in its stories, characters, and imaginative range, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting is the novel that brought Milan Kundera his first big international success in the late 1970s. Like all his work, it is valuable for far more than its historical implications. In seven wonderfully integrated parts, different aspects of human existence are magnified and reduced, reordered and emphasized, newly examined, analyzed, and experienced.

Miles Wednesday, orphaned, unwashed and living in a barrel, has never been to a circus before—but then the Circus Oscuro is no ordinary circus. There's a strange beast called The Null and an array of sinister-looking clowns, and when an unusual little girl with wings falls from a tower during the performance, Miles's life is changed forever. As Miles and Little embark on an extraordinary journey to rescue two friends who have been captured at the Palace of Laughter, they discover nothing less than the power of friendship and the gift of family.

In a world where color is magic and belief is power, four misfit immortals are picked by fate.Literally as old as dirt, Bai is tired of learning, tired of killing, tired of life. So he retreats to his mountain, taking the key to the Underworld with him.Jin needs that key. It is the only way to save her father, the Sun Emperor and ruler of the Heavens. But Jin is merely the Goddess of Beauty, and whoever cursed the Sun Emperor is now hunting her.The only being who will help her is Xiao, the God of Pleasure and her future husband. But Xiao lives in a drunken haze; can he really protect Jin when he can't even care for himself?Luckily Nanami, the world's second best thief, knows what to do. Steal Xiao's Infinite Jug and don't steal his heart-even if she really wants to. The meeting of these powerful but lonely beings will reveal secrets that could destroy the heavens-and dreams that might save the world.

A collection of jokes, riddles, tongue twisters, tricks, games, poems, and stories.

One night was all it took for everything to change. From college student to guardian in a single breath. My siblings became my world. No time for date nights or romantic dreams. I traded quiet weekends for sleepless nights. Giving my all to make sure they were cared for. But Griffin had a brokenness that called to me—one that mirrored my own. Gruff and just a little bit reckless. He was the last thing I needed. But everything I wanted. Only someone isn’t happy about this new life I’m building. Deciding to set fire to everything I hold close. And when the smoke clears, there might be only ashes left behind… ***** Read what others are saying about Wrecked Palace: "A tortured hero, an inspirational heroine, suspense, and a slow-burn romance are the perfect recipe for a book that will utterly captivate readers. A must read for 2021!" - Samantha Young, NY Times Bestseller "An emotional story of loss and healing that wraps around your heart. Catherine Cowles delivered! I couldn't stop reading until I finished in one sitting." - Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author Wrecked Palace wrecked me in the best way! Heartwarming, swoony moments, sizzling chemistry, and just enough intrigue to keep me completely invested--this book had me hooked from page one! - Willow Aster, USA Today Bestselling Author ***** Read what others are saying about Catherine Cowles: "I fell in love with these characters, with the writing, and with this unexpected story. I can't recommend it enough!" - Alessandra Torre, New York Times Bestseller “Heartwarming, romantic and with an added bit of suspense, Beautifully Broken Pieces had me glued to every page! Catherine Cowles, meet your newest super fan.” - Devney Perry, USA Today Bestseller “Cowles writes fresh, addicting, and intensely beautiful stories!” - Susan Stoker, New York Times Bestseller "Catherine Cowles has a way of pulling the reader into the world she has created and leaves you there for days after you have read the last page." - Kelly Elliott, New York Times Bestseller “I walked away knowing I would read every single thing this talented new author ever writes." - Natasha is a Book Junkie

What made the Romans laugh? Was ancient Rome a carnival, filled with practical jokes and hearty chuckles? Or was it a carefully regulated culture in which the uncontrollable excess of laughter was a force to fear--a world of wit, irony, and knowing smiles? How did Romans make sense of laughter? What role did it play in the world of the law courts, the imperial palace, or the spectacles of the arena? Laughter in Ancient Rome explores one of the most intriguing, but also trickiest, of historical subjects. Drawing on a wide range of Roman writing--from essays on rhetoric to a surviving Roman joke book--Mary Beard tracks down the giggles, smirks, and guffaws of the ancient Romans themselves. From ancient "monkey business" to the role of a chuckle in a culture of tyranny, she explores Roman humor from the hilarious, to the momentous, to the surprising. But she also reflects on even bigger historical questions. What kind of history of laughter can we possibly tell? Can we ever really "get" the Romans' jokes?