Viviana didn't have much. Only a dream. The dream of becoming a doctor. But the truth is that she ended up in the army. Why? She doesn't know it herself. But then she met him. It was unexpected. Everything happened so fast. He happened so fast. And it wasn't enough.

The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has learned, how he has worked to achieve his childhood dreams, and the effect of his diagnosis on him and his family.

The beloved New York Times bestselling author reflects on home, family, friendships and writing in this deeply personal collection of essays. "The elegance of Patchett’s prose is seductive and inviting: with Patchett as a guide, readers will really get to grips with the power of struggles, failures, and triumphs alike." —Publisher's Weekly “Any story that starts will also end.” As a writer, Ann Patchett knows what the outcome of her fiction will be. Life, however, often takes turns we do not see coming. Patchett ponders this truth in these wise essays that afford a fresh and intimate look into her mind and heart. At the center of These Precious Days is the title essay, a surprising and moving meditation on an unexpected friendship that explores “what it means to be seen, to find someone with whom you can be your best and most complete self.” When Patchett chose an early galley of actor and producer Tom Hanks’ short story collection to read one night before bed, she had no idea that this single choice would be life changing. It would introduce her to a remarkable woman—Tom’s brilliant assistant Sooki—with whom she would form a profound bond that held monumental consequences for them both. A literary alchemist, Patchett plumbs the depths of her experiences to create gold: engaging and moving pieces that are both self-portrait and landscape, each vibrant with emotion and rich in insight. Turning her writer’s eye on her own experiences, she transforms the private into the universal, providing us all a way to look at our own worlds anew, and reminds how fleeting and enigmatic life can be. From the enchantments of Kate DiCamillo’s children’s books (author of The Beatryce Prophecy) to youthful memories of Paris; the cherished life gifts given by her three fathers to the unexpected influence of Charles Schultz’s Snoopy; the expansive vision of Eudora Welty to the importance of knitting, Patchett connects life and art as she illuminates what matters most. Infused with the author’s grace, wit, and warmth, the pieces in These Precious Days resonate deep in the soul, leaving an indelible mark—and demonstrate why Ann Patchett is one of the most celebrated writers of our time.

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 1. I’m in a coma. 2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. 3. Sometimes I lie. Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise.

The prize-winning, New York Times bestselling short story collection from the internationally bestselling author of Lincoln in the Bardo 'The best book you'll read this year' New York Times 'Dazzlingly surreal stories about a failing America' Sunday Times WINNER OF THE 2014 FOLIO PRIZE AND SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 2013 George Saunders's most wryly hilarious and disturbing collection yet, Tenth of December illuminates human experience and explores figures lost in a labyrinth of troubling preoccupations. A family member recollects a backyard pole dressed for all occasions; Jeff faces horrifying ultimatums and the prospect of Darkenfloxx(TM) in some unusual drug trials; and Al Roosten hides his own internal monologue behind a winning smile that he hopes will make him popular. With dark visions of the future riffing against ghosts of the past and the ever-settling present, this collection sings with astonishing charm and intensity.

She was born before women had the right to vote yet went on to become one of America'¿¿s most influential First Ladies. A Gallup poll named her one of the most admired people of the twentieth century and she remains well known as a role model for a life well lived. Roosevelt wrote You Learn by Living at the age of seventy-six, just two years before her death. The commonsense ideas'¿¿and heartfelt ideals'¿¿presented in this volume are as relevant today as they were five decades ago. Her keys to a fulfilling life? Some of her responses include: learning to learn, the art of maturity, and getting the best out of others.

As The Giving Tree turns fifty, this timeless classic is available for the first time ever in ebook format. This digital edition allows young readers and lifelong fans to continue the legacy and love of a classic that will now reach an even wider audience. "Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein's incomparable career as a bestselling children's book author and illustrator began with Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back. He is also the creator of picture books including A Giraffe and a Half, Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros?, The Missing Piece, The Missing Piece Meets the Big O, and the perennial favorite The Giving Tree, and of classic poetry collections such as Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, Every Thing On It, Don't Bump the Glump!, and Runny Babbit. And don't miss the other Shel Silverstein ebooks, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic!

Besides their name, the Popsics seem to be a normal family. Sholt and his wife, Dyrain, are perfect pushovers with three spoiled children who they secretly believe are the only reason why they are still married. Their teenage adopted Pakistani son, Sammy, knows for certain he is the luckiest teenager alive. His sisters, Kamora and Olina, take pride in their big sister / little sister roles. But the truth is that this family does not exist yet. Years earlier, Dyrain is a fifteen-year-old with a devoted pen pal, Ien Green. She has never seen his face or heard his voice. He lives in Wyoming, she in Utah. For five years, Ien has been communicating with Dyrain through letters. Only Dyrain knows Ien is an alien. What she does not know is that he is authoring her future life into existence for the purpose of tranquility when his and her people come together. Now only time will tell whether Dyrain can come to accept the alien writings enough to continue her relationship with Ien and, in her own way, help him introduce Earth to alien life. In this science fiction adventure, an earthling, brought together with an alien through pen pal correspondence, discovers her destiny is nothing like she ever imagined.

"Marilyn Campbell is at the top of her storytelling craft with this enticing time-travel romance. Be prepared for an all-night read . . ." ~Ellen G. Wulf, Verified Reviewer A Young 1950s War-Widow Time Travels to 2016 to Save a Stranger's Life At the Risk of Her Own in Marilyn Campbell's Paranormal Time-Travel Romance, JUST IN TIME -- 1950s to 2016 -- When Beverly Newcastle, a young 1950s war-widow, encounters a gypsy fortune teller with a magic potion, she's tossed 5 decades into the future and lands in the arms of Josh Colby, a half-Mohawk, Harley-riding bouncer. Desperate to clear his imprisoned grandfather of a murder he did not commit, Josh learns that Beverly holds the key. To turn that key, Beverly must travel back to her own time. But by the time he and Beverly figure out how to send her back, Beverly also holds the key to his heart. Publisher's Note: Readers who enjoy romance, sex and mystery as well as fans of Callie Langridge, Bethany Claire, Gillian Doyle and Barbara Longley will certainly enjoy Marilyn Campbell's fun romp through time. "If you're a time-travel fan, this is the book for you. . . . you almost believe it could really happen." ~Mona R. Anderson THE LOVERS IN TIME SERIES, in order Out of Time Just in Time Some Time Away It's About Time THE INNERWORLD AFFAIRS SERIES, in order Romulus Falcon Gallant Gabriel Logan Roman Blaze MARILYN CAMPBELL has been published in the genres of suspense, futuristic, time-travel, paranormal, erotic and lighthearted contemporary romances, non-fiction metaphysical works and has had a screenplay produced. A true thrill-junkie, she has jumped out of an airplane, raced around the Indy 500 track, driven solo throughout the United States and believes a labyrinth walk under the full moon can have magical results. Unfortunately, Marilyn has not yet figured out how to time-travel...except in her stories. She currently resides in western Massachusetts.