Books Like “Answered Prayers”

The tortilla curtain

T. Coraghessan Boyle

1995

”Bittere Situationskomik, die noch im Moment der Katastrophe zum Lachen reizt.“ Reed Stillwater in der >taz

Breaking Dawn

Stephenie Meyer

2000

In the explosive fourth book in the epic romantic saga, Bella has one final choice to make. Should she stay mortal and strengthen her connection to the werewolves—or leave it all behind to become a vampire? When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved? To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs. This astonishing, breathlessly anticipated fourth book of The Twilight Saga illuminates the secrets and mysteries of this heart electrifying romantic epic. “You too might fall in love with its suspense and moving sensitivity" (The Daily News Tribune) Praise for The Twilight Saga “This tale of tortured demon lovers entices”—Kirkus Reviews "In the tradition of Anne Rice. . . this dark romance is gripping." —Booklist (starred review) "The novel's danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive." —School Library Journal (starred review) “Relish this new adventure and hunger for more”—Booklist A New York Times bestseller A New York Times "Editor's Choice" A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year An Amazon best of #Booktok Book

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Edward Albee

1962

Billy Rose Theatre, Theater 1963, Richard Barr, Clinton Wilder, presents Uta Hagen, Arthur Hill, George Grizzard in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" with Melinda Dillon, directed by Alan Schneider, production designed by William Ritman

The Age of Innocence

Edith Wharton

1920

Edith Wharton’s acclaimed novel of love, duty, and half-known truths in Gilded Age New York society, with a foreword by bestselling author Elif Batuman Dutiful Newland Archer, an eligible young man from New York high society, is about to announce his engagement to May Welland, a suitable match from a good family, when May’s cousin, the beautiful and exotic Countess Ellen Olenska, is introduced into their circle. The Countess brings with her an aura of European sophistication and a hint of perceived scandal, having left her husband and claimed her independence. Her worldliness, disregard for society’s rules, and air of unapproachability attract the sensitive Newland, despite his enthusiasm about a marriage to May and the societal advantages it would bring. Almost against their will, Newland and Ellen develop a passionate bond, and a classic love triangle takes shape as the three young people find themselves drawn into a poignant and bitter conflict between love and duty. Written in 1920, Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a time and place long gone by—1870s New York City—beautifully captures the complexities of passion, independence, and fulfillment, and how painfully hard it can be for individuals to truly see one another and their place in the world. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Man and Wife

Wilkie Collins, Norman Page, Harry A. Webber

1870

Man and Wife was Wilkie Collins' ninth published novel. It is the second of his novels (after No Name) in which social questions provide the main impetus of the plot. Collins increasingly used his novels to explore social abuses, which according to critics] tends to detract from their qualities as fiction. The social issue which drives the plot is the state of Scots marriage law; at the time the novel was written, any couple who were legally entitled to marry and who asserted that they were married before witnesses, or in writing, were regarded in Scotland as being married in law. The novel has a complex plot, common in Collins' work.[3] In a Prologue, a selfish and ambitious man casts off his wife in order to marry a wealthier and better-connected woman, by taking advantage of a loophole in the marriage laws of Ireland.The initial action takes place in the widowed Lady Lundie's house in Scotland. Geoffrey Delamayn has promised marriage to his lover Anne Silvester (governess to Lady Lundie's stepdaughter Blanche), who has incurred the enmity of her employer. The spendthrift Geoffrey is about to be disinherited and wishes to escape from his promise and marry a wealthy wife. Nevertheless, he is obliged to arrange a rendezvous with Anne, in the character of his wife, at an inn, and documents this in an exchange of notes with her. Subsequently, urgent matters force him to send his friend Arnold Brinkworth, Blanche's fiancé, to Anne in his place. To gain access to her, Arnold must ask for "his wife". Although nothing improper passes between them, they appear to the landlady and to Bishopriggs, a waiter, to be man and wife.Thus, both Geoffrey and Arnold might be deemed to be married to Anne, depending on the weight put on the spoken and written evidence. Most of the novel concerns Anne's, Geoffrey's and Arnold's attempts to clarify their marital status:

The Selection (The Selection #1)

Kiera Cass

2012

Elles sont trente-cinq jeunes filles : la "Sélection" s'annonce comme l'opportunité de leur vie. L'unique chance pour elles de troquer un destin misérable contre un monde de paillettes. L'unique occasion d'habiter dans un palais et de conquérir le coeur du prince Maxon, l'héritier du trône. Mais pour America Singer, cette sélection relève plutôt du cauchemar. Cela signifie renoncer à son amour interdit avec Aspen, un soldat de la caste inférieure. Quitter sa famille. Entrer dans une compétition sans merci. Vivre jour et nuit sous l'oeil des caméras... Puis America rencontre le Prince. Et tous les plans qu'elle avait échafaudés s'en trouvent bouleversés...

Family ties

Danielle Steel

1995

From Manhattan to Paris and all the way to Tehran, Danielle Steel weaves a powerfully compelling story that reminds us how challenging and unpredictable life can be—and how the bonds of family hold us together. FAMILY TIES Annie Ferguson was a bright young Manhattan architect with a limitless future—until a single phone call changed the course of her life forever. Overnight, she became the mother to her sister’s three orphaned children, keeping a promise she never regretted making, even if it meant putting her own life indefinitely on hold. Now, at forty-two, still happily single with a satisfying career and a family that means everything to her, Annie is suddenly facing an empty nest. With her nephew and nieces now grown and confronting challenges of their own, she must navigate a parent’s difficult passage between helping and letting go. The eldest, twenty-eight-year-old Liz, an overworked editor in a high-powered job at Vogue, has never allowed any man to come close enough to hurt her. Ted, at twenty-four a serious law student, is captivated by a much older woman with children, who is leading him much further than he wants to go. And the impulsive youngest, twenty-one-year old Katie, is an art student about to make a choice that will lead her to a world she is in no way prepared for but determined to embrace. Then, when least expected, a chance encounter changes Annie’s life again in the most surprising direction of all. . . .

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, Children Are from Heaven

John Gray

1999

John Gray's work explores the fundamental differences in communication and emotional needs between men and women, applying these insights to family dynamics. The book delves into how these distinct perspectives impact marital relationships and parenting, offering strategies to navigate misunderstandings and foster greater harmony. It examines how understanding sex differences is crucial for effective interpersonal communication within the family unit, ultimately aiming to cultivate a more loving and supportive environment for all members.

Louder Than Words

Jenny McCarthy

2007

The celebrity author presents an account of her experiences as a mother of an autistic son, describing her efforts to manage the condition's symptoms while sorting through conflicting medical theories.

Babyhood

Paul Reiser

1997

The author, a new father, discusses the intricacies of welcoming a new member of the family, from the nerve-racking drive to the delivery room to the art of hypnotizing your newborn to sleep.

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen

1813

Austen’s most celebrated novel tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet, a bright, lively young woman with four sisters, and a mother determined to marry them to wealthy men. At a party near the Bennets’ home in the English countryside, Elizabeth meets the wealthy, proud Fitzwilliam Darcy. Elizabeth initially finds Darcy haughty and intolerable, but circumstances continue to unite the pair. Mr. Darcy finds himself captivated by Elizabeth’s wit and candor, while her reservations about his character slowly vanish. The story is as much a social critique as it is a love story, and the prose crackles with Austen’s wry wit.

Brideshead Revisited

Evelyn Waugh

1945

Evelyn Waugh's beloved masterpiece, with an introduction by Paula Byrne The most nostalgic and reflective of Evelyn Waugh's novels, Brideshead Revisited looks back to the golden age before the Second World War. It tells the story of Charles Ryder's infatuation with the Marchmains and the rapidly disappearing world of privilege they inhabit. Enchanted first by Sebastian Flyte at Oxford, then by his doomed Catholic family, in particular his remote sister, Julia, Charles comes finally to recognise his spiritual and social distance from them. 'Lush and evocative ... Expresses at once the profundity of change and the indomitable endurance of the human spirit' The Times

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love

Sue Johnson (Author), Helen Keeley (Narrator), Little, Brown Spark (Publisher) & 0 more Format: Audible Audiobook

2008

Strengthen and deepen your relationships with this "much-needed" (Harville Hendrix, PhD) guide that has sold over one million copies, through revelatory practical exercises, seven profound conversations, and sage advice from “the best couple’s therapist in the world” (John Gottman, PhD, bestselling author) Are you looking to enrich a healthy relationship, revitalize a tired one, or rescue one gone awry? We all want a lifetime of love, support, and companionship. But sometimes we need a little help. Enter Dr. Sue Johnson, developer of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and “the most original contributor to couple’s therapy to come along in the last thirty years,” according to Dr. William J. Doherty, PhD. In Hold Me Tight, Dr. Johnson shares her groundbreaking and remarkably successful program for creating stronger, more secure relationships. The message of Hold Me Tight is simple: Forget about learning how to argue better, analyzing your early childhood, making grand romantic gestures, or experimenting with new sexual positions. Instead, get to the emotional underpinnings of your relationship by recognizing that you are emotionally attached to and dependent on your partner in much the same way that a child is on a parent for nurturing, soothing, and protection. Dr. Johnson teaches that the way to enhance or save a relationship is to be open, attuned, and responsive to each other and to reestablish emotional connection. With this in mind, she focuses on key moments in a relationship and uses them as touch points for seven healing conversations, including: Recognizing the Demon Dialogues Finding the Raw Spots Revisiting a Rocky Moment Forgiving Injuries Keeping Your Love Alive These conversations give you insight into the defining moments in your relationship and guide you in reshaping these moments to create a secure and lasting bond. Through stories from Dr. Johnson’s practice, illuminating advice, and practical exercises, you will learn how to nurture, protect, and

Smart Woman's Guide to PMS and Pain-Free Periods

Linda Woolven

2008

An unabashed guide to symptom-free, drug-free periods For the 30 to 40 percent of women afflicted with PMS, traditional medicine can offer no genuine cures, only hormones, anti-depressants, and temporary pain-killers. Offering a practical, easy-to-implement plan for recovery from even the most debilitating forms of PMS, herbalist Linda Woolven outlines a natural powerhouse regimen of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and nutritional changes. A comprehensive guide to every aspect of women's menstrual and sexual health, the book also addresses menopause and osteoporosis. Combining scientific research and clinical experience with clear practical guidelines, this is an essential how-to health book for women of all ages. Linda Woolven (Toronto, ON, Canada) is the author of The Vegetarian Passport Cookbook (978-1-555041-331-1) and Healthy Herbs (978-1-555041-329-8).

Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself (Revised and Updated)

Melody Beattie (Author) Format: Paperback

1992

Codependent No More

Keep Calm!

Gina Bellisario, Renée Kurilla

2014

"Keep Calm!" by Gina Bellisario and Renée Kurilla offers young readers practical strategies for navigating feelings of anxiety and stress. Through relatable scenarios and engaging illustrations, the book guides children in understanding their emotions and developing coping mechanisms. It provides accessible tools and simple techniques to help them manage worry and find moments of calm.

The Freedom of Life

Annie Payson Call

1905

Annie Payson Call's "The Freedom of Life" offers a practical philosophy for achieving inner peace and mental well-being by emphasizing the power of conscious thought and disciplined will. The book guides readers toward self-mastery, asserting that true freedom lies not in external circumstances but in cultivating a serene and resilient inner life through consistent self-effort and a positive outlook. Call's enduring insights provide a framework for navigating life's challenges with greater equanimity and purpose, fostering personal growth and sustained happiness.

The Art of War

孙武 (Sun Tzu), Stephen F. Kaufman, Lionel Giles, Onésimo Colavidas

1900

Sun Tzu's ancient treatise, "The Art of War," offers timeless strategic principles applicable beyond the battlefield to business, politics, and personal conflict. It emphasizes understanding oneself and the enemy, the importance of deception and adaptability, and the value of achieving victory with minimal confrontation. Through its concise aphorisms and insightful observations, the work provides a framework for decisive action and the cultivation of superior strategic thinking.

El conde Lucanor

Don Juan Manuel

1839

Don Juan Manuel (1282-1348), noble directamente emparentado con las familias que durante varios siglos ocuparon el trono de Castilla, es un caso anómalo en la literatura medieval española en la que abundan las obras anónimas. Sin embargo, entre su vida pública, de la que se conserva numerosa documentación, y la imagen que de sí mismo ofrecen sus páginas hay sorprendentes contrastes. Sus ocho obras conservadas, en las que predomina la intención de adoctrinar a los jóvenes vástagos de la nobleza, lo convierten en el prosista más importante del siglo XIV. En El conde Lucanor, su obra más conocida, alcanzan culminación y síntesis las tradiciones cuentísticas del mundo oriental y de los predicadores cristianos. La popularidad obtenida por los exempla incluidos en la primera parte no debe, sin embargo, oscurecer la habilidad con que Don Juan Manuel organiza el conjunto y combina distintos recursos retóricos. La pareja formada por el conde Lucanor y su ayo Patronio traspasa con sorprendente modernidad los borrosos límites que separan la realidad de la fición y entra por derecho propio a formar parte de los personajes famosos de la literatura universal.

Horton Hatches the Egg

Dr. Seuss

1940

When a lazy bird hatching an egg wants a vacation, she asks Ortone, the elephant, to sit on her egg--which he does through all sorts of hazards until he is rewarded for doing what he said he would.

The Outsiders

S. E. Hinton, Jim Fyfe, Jodi Picoult

1967

Includes bonus material, a new foreword by the author, and a discussion guide.

The Shining

Stephen King

1977

This inspiring and compelling book has won ten awards to date, including Honorable Mentions at the December 2012 New England and London Book Festivals, October 2012 Southern California Book Festival and June 2012 New York Book Festival in the category of Spiritual books; is winner of the North American Bookdealers ́ Exchange (NABE) Pinnacle Award for “Inspirational” books in Spring 2011; and has become a much sought-after reference for people seeking to affect positive change around the globe. Readers are: * taught how to recognize, harness and channel positive personal power for the betterment of themselves, their loved ones, associates and our universe * provided an invaluable checklist of great leadership behaviors and attitudes * taught how to recognize controlling behaviors of others and the negative patterns in society * inspired to be the best they can be * compelled to ask themselves "why am I here; what good can I do for humanity?" * taught how to recognize a self-limiting posture so they can improve their level of self-awareness......to the point of real self-intelligence and, by so doing, break free of life’s boxes, labels and restrictions * encouraged to erase their fears, trust their abilities and remove their baggage........and take the journey to empowerment and fulfilment in everything they do!

The Pearl

John Steinbeck

1945

The classic novella from Nobel Prize-winner John Steinbeck explores the secrets of man's nature, the darkest depths of evil, and the luminous possibilities of love. Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the Kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security....

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

1843

This classic tale has been formatted to make it more dyslexia-friendly, with larger text (font size 14), larger line spacing (1.5 lines), an easy to read font (Ariel) and is also printed on cream paper. For more on our large print and dyslexia-friendly books, and our bulk discounts for schools visit: firestonebooks.com