Author: Opelt, Amanda Held, author. Published: 2022 Call Number: 204.42 Format: Books Summary: "Generations past have embraced a robust array of rituals and customs surrounding death and bereavement. When did we forget how to grieve well? When Amanda Held Opelt suffered a season of loss-including three miscarriages and the death of her grandmother and culminating in the unexpected death of her sister, New York Times bestselling writer Rachel Held Evans-she was faced with sorrow she didn't know to face. And through her career as an international aid worker, she traveled to some of the world's most troubled regions, devastated by war, natural disasters, and disease. In the wake of these losses and exposure to trauma, Opelt struggled to process her grief and accept the reality of her pain and the pain in the world. She also wrestled with some unexpectedly difficult questions: What does it mean to truly grieve and to grieve well? Why is it so hard to move on? Why didn't my faith prepare me for this kind of pain? Does the Bible really speak to the heart of sorrow? What am I supposed to do now? Her search for a way to process her grief led her to seek wisdom about how other people have made it through, and she found that generations past embraced rituals that served as vessels for pain and aided in the process of grieving and healing. Today, many of these traditions have been lost as religious practice declines, cultures amalgamate, death is sanitized, and pain is averted. In this raw and authentic memoir of bereavement, Opelt explores the history of human grief practices and how previous generations have journeyed through periods of suffering. She explores grief rituals and customs from various cultures, including: --the Irish tradition of keening, or wailing in grief, which teaches her that healing can only begin when we dive headfirst into our grief. --the Victorian tradition of post-mortem photographs and how we struggle to recall a loved one as they were. --the Jewish tradition of sitting shiva, which reminds her to rest in the strength of her community even when God feels absent. --the tradition of mourning clothing, which set the bereaved apart in society for a time, allowing them space honor their grief. As Opelt explores each bereavement practice, it allows her to utilize these rituals as a framework for processing their own pain. She shares how, in spite of her doubt and anger, God met her in the midst of sorrow and grieved along with her. This book is a testament to the idea that when we carefully and honestly attend to our losses, we are able to expand our capacity for love, faith, and healing"--
Author: Glenn, Ruth M., author. Published: 2022 Call Number: B GLENN Format: Books Summary: "The raw, uplifting, and unforgettable memoir from the CEO and president of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence chronicling her personal battle against abuse, violence, and even a murder attempt. Ruth M. Glenn wasn't surprised the first time her husband beat her. She was hurt and disappointed but after a childhood in a broken and violent home, she was not surprised. After all, this was just the way things were, right? It was only after she lay bleeding in a car wash parking lot, after being shot three times by him, that Glenn resolved-if she managed to survive-to spend the rest of her life combating domestic violence. Now, she brings her full story to the forefront with this survivor's tale crossed with a rousing call to action. She reveals her difficult but ultimately rewarding journey from that parking lot to sacrificing everything to obtain her GED, followed by her JD. With her evocative and thoughtful voice, Glenn explores the reasons why men beat and kill women, why women and children are seen as lesser in our society, how to stop victim blaming, and how to demystify domestic violence to stop it once and for all. A memoir of resilience and courage, Everything I Never Dreamed is a necessary book that proves that abuse does not have to define a survivor's entire life"--
Author: Rocco, Giovanni (Law enforcement), author. Schofield, Douglas, author. Published: 2022 2021 Call Number: 364.106 Format: Books Summary: Giovanni's Ring is the story of "Giovanni Rocco," a New Jersey police officer, known undercover as "Giovanni Gatto," who was the mysterious agent at the epicenter of Operation Charlie Horse, a federal undercover operation that ultimately brought down ten members and associates of New Jersey's DeCavalcante Mafia family, the criminal organization known as "the real Sopranos." Giovanni spent nearly three years working his way into the DeCavalcante hierarchy. That lethal assignment brought the undercover operation to an end in March 2015, and the resulting string of high-profile arrests eviscerated the criminal organization
Author: Weber, Marcus (Author of urban fiction), author. Published: 2022 2020 Call Number: PB WEBER Format: Books Summary: Overcoming a troubled childhood filled with abuse, secrets, and lies, Sarita Powell, over the course of one summer, finds herself in a position of power, strength, and respect as Philadelphia's drug kingpin. Before all of the hood fame, fancy cars, nice clothes, lavish homes, luxurious vacations, and loads of money, Sarita Powell had to go through the mud. She experienced the heartbreak of her mother's death when she was a little girl; pain from the abuse she endured at the hands of the very person she'd hoped would keep her safe; and confusion about the many family secrets and lies that one day would show their ugly face. When Sarita found herself in a position of power, strength, and respect--a woman she never imagined she could become--she took Philadelphia by storm in the period of one summer. -- adapted from back cover.
Author: K'wan, author. Published: 2020 2006 Call Number: F KWAN Format: Books Summary: When her best friend ends up dead after being caught in the crossfire of the strong-arm tactics of the De Nardis, one of the most powerful drug suppliers in the city, during their attempt to take over control of Harlem, Eve Panelli, a young woman whose only family is the infamous Twenty-Gang, launches her own campaign to seek revenge on those responsible. "The only family Eve Panelli has ever known is the infamous Twenty Gang. Orphaned as a small child, Eve quickly learned the art of the hustle, and by age seventeen she had spent two years in prison. But now Eve is eighteen, back on the streets of Harlem with her gang and up to one of her old tricks: strong-arm robbery. Despite her edge, she's got a soft spot for Felon, the up-and-coming street king"--
Author: Weber, Marcus, author. Published: 2020 2018 Call Number: PB WEBER Format: Books Summary: Antonio, born of an affair between a beautiful actress and a notorious crime boss, lost his mother to drugs and was forced to navigate foster care and survive on the streets of the Bronx. He is ignored by his father, the infamous head of a powerful crime syndicate, and his half-brothers are living the life Antonio used to dream about. Antonio has turned his struggles into a career in the NBA, but when a devastating injury sidelines his basketball career and he finds out he has been duped out of millions by his best friend, Antonio is forced to turn to the father who never claimed him. Paige came from money. Private schools, trips around the world, and extravagant shopping sprees were all part of her upbringing. Her father is a well-respected politician who is not happy when his daughter falls in love with a man who represents everything the senator despises. But Paige's father harbors many secrets of his own, including one that will soon rock his family to the core. In spite of their own marital issues, Paige's parents try to exert pressure on her to leave Antonio. She lets love guide her, and despite her parents' threats to disinherit her, she marries Antonio anyway. When secrets, lies, and ties to a dangerous criminal underworld cause their opposing worlds to collide, the young couple is torn between their love for one another and their competing family loyalties. Family secrets, power, money, fame, and love are the ties that bind in this emotionally charged street tale.
Author: O'Meara, Mallory, author. Published: 2019 Call Number: B PATRICK Format: Books Summary: Mallory O'Meara uncovers the life and work of Milicent Patrick, one of Disney's first female animators and the only woman in history to create one of Hollywood's classic movie monsters. O'Meara discovered that Patrick's contribution had been claimed by a jealous male colleague, and she soon after had disappeared from film history. O'Meara set out to right the wrong, and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. The 1954 motion picture Creature from the Black Lagoon featured a monster designed by a woman, Milicent Patrick. But Patrick's contribution was claimed by a jealous male colleague, her career was cut short, and she soon after disappeared from film history. Working in the horror film industry, O'Meara set out to right the wrong and in the process discovered the full, fascinating story of an ambitious, artistic woman ahead of her time. Patrick began her career as one of Disney's first female animators, and O'Meara establishes Patrick in her rightful place in film history while calling out a Hollywood culture where little has changed. --Adapted from jacket.
Author: K'wan, author. Published: 2019 Call Number: F KWAN Format: Books Summary: In the history of New York City's underworld, there have been a host of criminal figures whose exploits have gone on to inspire. One of them is Jonas Rafferty, known among friends and enemies alike as Wrath, whose life changes when he crosses paths with rogue homicide detective Louis "Lou" Ceavers and offered a bargain that will change the course of his life. From the neighborhood bullies to the stepfather who uses him and his siblings as punching bags, Jonas "Wrath" Rafferty's life has been one battle after another. Rogue homicide detective Louis "Lou" Ceavers offers him a bargain that will change the course of his life, and Jonas goes from errand boy and street muscle to one of the most dangerous young men in the city. Then Alex, his childhood crush, comes home on break from college and gives him a glimpse of the one thing he's always craved more than money and power: love. When Alex becomes pregnant, Wrath wants to be there for her and his unborn child. Seeking to end his arrangement with the detective, Wrath learns no bargain comes without a price. -- adapted from back cover.
Author: Murkoff, Heidi Eisenberg, author. Mazel, Sharon, author. Published: 2017 Call Number: 618.2 Format: Books Summary: "It's a cover-to-cover revision of America's bestselling guide to getting pregnant, with updated information about genetic screening, ovulation tracking, fertility treatments, and risks like Zika. What to Expect Before You're Expecting, with over 250,000 copies in print, has everything that eager-to-be moms and dads need to know about getting pregnant, from getting their bodies ready to make a healthy baby to getting that healthy baby on board faster. You'll find baby-friendly foods to order up (say yes to yams); fertility-busters to avoid (see you later, saturated fat); how to pinpoint ovulation, time baby-making sex, keep on-demand sex sexy, and separate conception fact--it takes the average couple up to 12 months to make a baby--from myth--position matters. With the latest on health insurance coverage, preconception travel and the Zika virus, sex selection techniques, antidepressants, and information on family-building options for single women and same-sex couples. Plus, for the 1 in 8 couples who experience infertility, the latest on both low-tech and cutting-edge fertility treatments, from medications to IVF and surrogacy. It's everything you need to know for that baby-making adventure"--
Author: K'wan, author. Published: 2017 Call Number: F KWAN Format: Books Summary: Diamonds and Pearl each try to claw their way to the top of the New York street scene, and back to each other. The New York street scene is full of treachery and alliances, and Diamonds knows he has to push away his past if he's to grab hold of a future with Pearl. But there's about to be an all-out war, and Diamonds is in exile, planning his next move. Meanwhile Pearl faces a threat that could topple the Stone empire; and Vita has discovered a sinister plan that threatens to destroy everything she had fought so hard to build.
Author: Stross, Charles, author. Published: 2016 2015 Call Number: PB STROSS Format: Books Summary: Dominique O'Brien--her friends call her Mo--lives a curious double life with her husband, Bob Howard. To the average civilian, they're boring middle-aged civil servants. But within the labyrinthian secret circles of Her Majesty's government, they're operatives working for the nation's occult security service known as the Laundry, charged with defending Britain against dark supernatural forces threatening humanity. Mo's latest assignment is assisting the police in containing an unusual outbreak: ordinary citizens suddenly imbued with extraordinary abilities of the super-powered kind. Unfortunately these people prefer playing super-pranks instead of super-heroics. The Mayor of London being levitated by a dumpy man in Trafalgar Square would normally be a source of shared amusement for Mo and Bob, but they're currently separated because something's come between them--something evil. An antique violin, an Erich Zann original, made of human white bone, was designed to produce music capable of slaughtering demons. Mo is the custodian of this unholy instrument. It invades her dreams and yearns for the blood of her colleagues--and her husband. And despite Mo's proficiency as a world class violinist, it cannot be controlled...
Author: Manning, Niles, author. Published: 2016 Call Number: PB MANNING Format: Books Summary: "Detective Grainger has finally recovered from a shaky career by closing a major case in the small town of Rock City. He goes from the fringe of being kicked off the force to a local hero. During his fifteen minutes of fame, bodies with familiar faces start to turn up. In Grainger's world, there were no such things as coincidences, so he immediately starts a back-door investigation. When he finally starts to piece together the pattern, Grainger realizes that a childhood secret he thought long buried is threatening to come to light. Some scars never healed, and a nasty wound is about to be reopened that could cost Grainger his job, if not his life."--Amazon.com
Author: Christie, Agatha, 1890-1976 author. Published: 2016 1939 Call Number: F CHRISTIE Format: Books Summary: Ten people, strangers to each other, are invited to a lavish estate on an island. The tension mounts as, one by one, they are murdered.
Author: K'wan, author. Published: 2016 Call Number: PB KWAN Format: Books Summary: "Every little girl dreams of a happy ending to her story; a home, children, and a man who loves her enough to share his life and last name. When Billy's longtime boyfriend Marcus finally pops the question, it's one of the happiest moments of her life. Billy calls on her childhood friends Reese and Yoshi to stand with her on her special day. Several years have passed since they'd last come together, and unresolved issues have driven a wedge between the women. Nevertheless, they agree to put their differences aside for the sake of Billy's wedding. But the truce is a short one when Billy has to decide on a maid of honor. Just when things seem to be coming together, they quickly begin to fall apart. At a time when Billy is supposed to be basking in the sunshine of her approaching wedding, she finds herself the target of shade being thrown from the most unlikely places. While Billy is going through her drama, Marcus is dealing with issues of his own. An old crime partner of his blows into town unexpectedly, and his presence threatens to destroy the legitimate life Marcus has worked so hard to build. Even with the universe seemingly working against them, Billy and Marcus are determined to have their dream wedding. But first they have to survive the nightmare of planning it. There goes the neighborhood...again."--Amazon.com.
Author: Stross, Charles, author. Published: 2015 2014 Call Number: PB STROSS Format: Books Summary: Bob Howard, a newly appointed junior manager of an organization tasked with defending England from supernatural threats, must stop an outbreak of vampirism at a merchant bank. As a newly appointed junior manager within the Laundry--the clandestine organization responsible for protecting Britain against supernatural threats--Bob Howard is expected to show some initiative to help the agency battle the forces of darkness. But shining a light on what's best left in the shadows is the last thing Bob wants to do--especially when those shadows hide an occult parasite spreading a deadly virus. Traders employed by a merchant bank in London are showing signs of infection--an array of unusual symptoms such as super-strength and -speed, an uncanny talent for mind control, an extreme allergic reaction to sunlight, and an unquenchable thirst for blood. While his department is tangled up in bureaucratic red tape (and Buffy reruns) debating how to stop the rash of vampirism, Bob digs deeper into the bank's history--only to uncover a blood-curdling conspiracy between men and monsters...
Author: Stross, Charles, author. Published: 2011 2010 Call Number: PB STROSS Format: Books Summary: While recovering a missing top secret dossier that his boss is accused of stealing, British super spy Bob Howard must safely navigate Russian agents, ancient demons, and an undead entity called the Eater of Souls. Bob Howard is taking a much needed break from the field to catch up on his filing in The Laundry's archives when a top secret dossier known as The Fuller Memorandum vanishes--along with his boss, who the agency's executives believe stole the file. Determined to discover exactly what the memorandum contained, Bob runs afoul of Russian agents, ancient demons, and the apostles of a hideous faith, who have plans to raise a very unpleasant undead entity known as the Eater of Souls...
Author: Durrow, Heidi W., 1969- Published: 2010 Call Number: FIC DUR Format: Books Summary: After a family tragedy orphans her, Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I., moves into her grandmother's mostly black community in the 1980s, where she must swallow her grief and confront her identity as a biracial woman in a world that wants to see her as either black or white.
Author: Oba, Tsugumi. Obata, Takeshi, 1969- ill. Published: 2008 2007 2006 2005 Call Number: 741.5 OBA VOL.5 & 6 Format: Books Summary: When high school student Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a Shinigami death god, he discovers that any person whose name is written in it dies, so Light decides to use the notebook to rid the world of evil.
Author: Shepard, Sara, 1977- Published: 2008 Call Number: Y SHEPARD Format: Books Summary: After their friend who has been missing for more than three years turns up dead, four former best friends continue to receive frightening messages from someone who knows damaging secrets about them.
