The pastor of St. Vincent Church in Akron, Ohio, shares fanciful conversations with the stray puppy, Vinnie, that he takes in. A quick learner, Vinnie soon learns the duties of a church dog, and enjoys all the attention given to him as such. (Practical Life)

Rev. Joseph Kraker is the pastor of St. Vincent Church in Akron, Ohio. He was ordained a priest in 1964 and served as an associate pastor at St. Jude Parish in Elyria, Ohio, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Cleveland, and pastor of St. Timothy Parish in Garfield Heights, Ohio before coming to St. Vincent in 1994. Vinnie came to St. Vincent Parish in 1998. His previous history is largely unknown, as is his precise pedigree. He arrived at the tender age of six weeks, and has since become an integral part of the parish household. A quick learner, Vinnie soon learned the duties of a church dog, and enjoys all the attention given to him as such.

Set within the netherworld of thoroughbred racing, this hair-raisingly funny new play by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of True West explores the classical themes of memory, loyalty, and restitution. Simpatico launches readers into regions where high society meets the low life, and where, as one of the main characters observes, "someone is cutting someone else's throat."

Something big and black crashes against the windshield, and an explosion rocks the car. Turn into the skid! I see a flash and something in front of me. Something tall with black material flapping around it like the tail ends of an old-fashioned duster. Long, straw-colored hair. A scraggily goatee. A man? What's a man doing at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere? Why's he just standing there? Why doesn't he get out of the way? I yank the wheel back the other way, and the car swerves around him. And heads straight off the road. When the world stops bouncing and the car settles, I try to keep my eyes focused, but everything blurs around the edges. The waves ebb, and I hear a crunching sound, like boots on gravel. Straining to see, I barely make out . . . What is that? A flag? No, it's that flapping black material. I think it's the man I swerved to miss. A sweet, melodious voice makes its way through the undulating roar in my ears. “Let me help you.” Help. Yes, I need help.

This is the story of the phenomenally popular, critically acclaimed Irish band from its Dublin beginnings to the present. U2: A Musical Biography tells the story of the phenomenally popular Irish rock band whose passionate songs and performances have taken them from their Dublin upbringing to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—all with the band's original foursome of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen, and Adam Clayton intact. U2 follows the band from the early talent show victory that got them their first recording contract to their 1987 worldwide breakout with The Joshua Tree and the string of critically acclaimed albums and sold-out stadium and arena tours that followed. As the story of U2 unfolds, readers will get a sense of the strong interpersonal bonds and deep-rooted Christian faith that have kept the band together for over three decades. The book also highlights the group's ongoing commitment to supporting a variety of human rights causes worldwide.

Just then came: crump, CRUMP, CRUMP! Three bombs in quick succession, coming frighteningly close. With each explosion, the ground shook. Dust and chips fell from the ceiling. Everyone in the shelter gasped at the same time. Vinnie held his breath, waiting for the fourth bomb, but it didn't come.When Vinnie is sent away from the bombs in London, he has no idea what awaits him. All he has left of his old life is his harmonica.On the train, Vinnie meets fierce Kathleen, sweet Joey and gangly Dobbs. The evacuee children find themselves thrown together in the country town of Netterfold, which seems beautiful and peaceful - until they meet the locals.There is a war raging across Europe, but Vinnie and his friends soon find they have their own war to fight as they face up to terrifying teachers, bad billets, and hostile neighbourhood kids who set out to make their lives as 'vaccies' miserable. And when things start to go missing, they discover that there are mysteries lurking in Netterfold's shadows, just waiting to be solved...Through music and friendship, can Vinnie make peace and finally find a place where he belongs?

(Applause Books). Thirteen plays by the Oscar-winning author of Moonstruck . Includes: "The Big Funk," "Savage in Limbo," "Danny & The Deep Blue Sea," "Welcome to the Moon," "The Red Coat," "Down & Out," "Let Us Go Out Into the Starry Night," "Out West," "A Lonely Impulse of Delight," "Women of Manhattan," "The Dreamer Examines His Pillow," "Italian-American Reconciliation," and "Beggars in the House of Plenty." Also includes an introduction by the author.