Download or read book The Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu written by Joshua Hammer and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2016-04-19 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: **New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice** To save ancient Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, a band of librarians pulls off a brazen heist worthy of Ocean’s Eleven in this “fast-paced narrative that is…part intellectual history, part geopolitical tract, and part out-and-out thriller” (The Washington Post) from the author of The Falcon Thief. In the 1980s, a young adventurer and collector for a government library, Abdel Kader Haidara, journeyed across the Sahara Desert and along the Niger River, tracking down and salvaging tens of thousands of ancient Islamic and secular manuscripts that were crumbling in the trunks of desert shepherds. His goal: preserve this crucial part of the world’s patrimony in a gorgeous library. But then Al Qaeda showed up at the door. “Part history, part scholarly adventure story, and part journalist survey…Joshua Hammer writes with verve and expertise” (The New York Times Book Review) about how Haidara, a mild-mannered archivist from the legendary city of Timbuktu, became one of the world’s greatest smugglers by saving the texts from sure destruction. With bravery and patience, Haidara organized a dangerous operation to sneak all 350,000 volumes out of the city to the safety of southern Mali. His heroic heist “has all the elements of a classic adventure novel” (The Seattle Times), and is a reminder that ordinary citizens often do the most to protect the beauty of their culture. His the story is one of a man who, through extreme circumstances, discovered his higher calling and was changed forever by it.

Download or read book Fatal Error written by Mark Morris and published by Pinnacle Books. This book was released on 2003-01-01 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The shocking true story--featured on "Dateline" and "Inside Edition"--of Michigan housewife Sharee Miller, a pathological liar, schemer, and sociopath who manipulated a man she met in an Internet chat room into murdering her innocent husband. of photos. Original.

Download or read book It s Not Easy Being Mean written by Lisi Harrison and published by Poppy. This book was released on 2008-08-01 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Massie Block: Getting back into Octavian Country Day was a piece of sugar-free cake, compared to Massie's next goal-finding the key that unlocks an ah-mazing legendary secret room at OCD! Alpha eighth grader Skye Hamilton and her clique have stashed the key in the bedroom of one mystery Briarwood boy, but who? Whoever finds the key gets access to the secret room for an entire year and the prestige that comes along with it. But what happens when LBR Layne seems to be getting closer? This is way more than a matter of life or death, it's a matter of in or out! Kristen Gregory: Always been a star on the soccer field, but her style gets majorly cramped when her friends are forced to join the team. They better start kicking those soccer balls or Kristen's going to start kicking some . . . ! Alicia Rivera: Uses her skills as a gossip reporter to scheme her way into the rooms of all the Briarwood hotties! Dylan Marvil: Heard depression makes people lose weight. Is hoping for some sad news soon because she's popping donut holes the way some people pop Tic-Tacs. Claire Lyons: Being famous isn't all it's cracked up to be! Her agent confiscates her gummies, and forces her to do some very bad things to make her more "edgy." Worst of all, her constant meetings with lawyers and movie execs are eating into her time with the P.C. and with Cam! Is being a Hollywood starlet worth the Gucci-high price tag?

Download or read book Twisted Loyalties written by Cora Reilly and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-11-13 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fabiano was raised to follow in his father's footsteps as Consigliere of the Chicago Outfit - until the man abandons him. Left to fend for himself, Fabiano is forced to fight for a place in the mafia world. As a ruthless street fighter, he quickly earns his place as the new Enforcer of the Las Vegas Camorra - a man to fear.Leona wants to build a decent life for herself, away from her drug-addicted mother. But soon she catches the attention of a dangerous man - Fabiano Scuderi. Staying out of trouble and living a normal life are near impossible with a man like him. Leona knows she needs to avoid Fabiano, but men like him aren't easy to shake off. They always get what they want.Fabiano cares about only one thing: the Camorra.But his attraction to Leona soon puts his unwavering loyalty to the test. Is Leona worth risking everything he's fought for, and ultimately his life?

Download or read book On Beauty written by Zadie Smith and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2005-09-13 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Winner of the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction, another bestselling masterwork from the celebrated author of Swing Time and White Teeth "In this sharp, engaging satire, beauty's only skin-deep, but funny cuts to the bone." —Kirkus Reviews Having hit bestseller lists from the New York Times to the San Francisco Chronicle, this wise, hilarious novel reminds us why Zadie Smith has rocketed to literary stardom. On Beauty is the story of an interracial family living in the university town of Wellington, Massachusetts, whose misadventures in the culture wars—on both sides of the Atlantic—serve to skewer everything from family life to political correctness to the combustive collision between the personal and the political. Full of dead-on wit and relentlessly funny, this tour de force confirms Zadie Smith's reputation as a major literary talent.

Download or read book Trail of Lightning written by Rebecca Roanhorse and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2018-06-26 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time 2019 LOCUS AWARD WINNER, BEST FIRST NOVEL 2019 HUGO AWARD FINALIST, BEST NOVEL Nebula Award Finalist for Best Novel One of Bustle’s Top 20 “landmark sci-fi and fantasy novels” of the decade “Someone please cancel Supernatural already and give us at least five seasons of this badass Indigenous monster-hunter and her silver-tongued sidekick.” —The New York Times “An excitingly novel tale.” —Charlaine Harris, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse and Midnight Crossroads series “Fun, terrifying, hilarious, and brilliant.” —Daniel José Older, New York Times bestselling author of Shadowshaper and Star Wars: Last Shot “A powerful and fiercely personal journey through a compelling postapocalyptic landscape.” —Kate Elliott, New York Times bestselling author of Court of Fives and Black Wolves While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters—and it is up to one young woman to unravel the mysteries of the past before they destroy the future. Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is their last best hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine. Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel the rez, unraveling clues from ancient legends, trading favors with tricksters, and battling dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive. Welcome to the Sixth World.

Download or read book Allegedly written by Tiffany D. Jackson and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2017-01-24 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 4 starred reviews! Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer’s Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home. Mary B. Addison killed a baby. Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it? There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?

Download or read book Born to Run written by Christopher McDougall and published by Profile Books. This book was released on 2010-12-09 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A New York Times bestseller 'A sensation ... a rollicking tale well told' - The Times At the heart of Born to Run lies a mysterious tribe of Mexican Indians, the Tarahumara, who live quietly in canyons and are reputed to be the best distance runners in the world; in 1993, one of them, aged 57, came first in a prestigious 100-mile race wearing a toga and sandals. A small group of the world's top ultra-runners (and the awe-inspiring author) make the treacherous journey into the canyons to try to learn the tribe's secrets and then take them on over a course 50 miles long. With incredible energy and smart observation, McDougall tells this story while asking what the secrets are to being an incredible runner. Travelling to labs at Harvard, Nike, and elsewhere, he comes across an incredible cast of characters, including the woman who recently broke the world record for 100 miles and for her encore ran a 2:50 marathon in a bikini, pausing to down a beer at the 20 mile mark.

Download or read book Danica Patrick written by Karen Sirvaitis and published by Twenty-First Century Books. This book was released on 2010-08-01 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "Danica Patrick shattered several records...at the storied Indianapolis 500. Even more lasting will be the point she made." During the 2005 race that made her a superstar, Danica Patrick proved she could drive at racing's highest level―and inspired countless girls who picture themselves behind the wheel of an Indy car. Danica was a fierce competitor even before she was making headlines. As a teenager, she smashed records and won championships as a go-kart racer. Later, she struggled through a tough training period in England and fought to become part of the Indy Racing League back in the United States. Since then, she has handled on-track adversity and the media spotlight with the support of her family. Find out the story behind Danica's first Indy Racing victory in 2008, her decision to branch out into NASCAR, and more.

Download or read book Danica Crossing the Line written by Danica Patrick and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-02-22 with total page 4 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sharing secrets and stories, tales from the track, and insights into her personal life, Danica reflects on her extraordinary rise from a ten-year-old go-kart champion to the most successful woman in the history of American racing. Danica Patrick's life moves at 220 mph. She drives every race and lives every day like she has something to prove—and she does. As a 5-foot 2-inch, 100-pound woman, she had to qualify a little quicker and race a little faster than the boys—just to earn the respect she would otherwise be given if she weren't the "girl on the track, driving the princess mobile." But you don't get to be an IndyCar driver without talent and determination. Danica is living proof that if you work hard and aim high, you can do whatever you set your mind to, that you can rise to any challenge, and that what makes you different is what makes you great. An inspiration to all, Crossing the Line offers Danica's unique perspective on how to compete in life, how to stand out, and how to get the respect and attention you deserve.

Download or read book American Gods written by Neil Gaiman and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2002-04-30 with total page 628 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shadow is a man with a past. But now he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with his wife and stay out of trouble. Until he learns that she's been killed in a terrible accident. Flying home for the funeral, as a violent storm rocks the plane, a strange man in the seat next to him introduces himself. The man calls himself Mr. Wednesday, and he knows more about Shadow than is possible. He warns Shadow that a far bigger storm is coming. And from that moment on, nothing will ever he the same...

Download or read book Racer written by Katy Evans and published by KT PUBLISHING . This book was released on 2017-11-24 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A bad boy with something to prove. A woman with a mission. The race of their lives. The love of a lifetime. I don't think his parents expected him to live up to his name?Racer Tate'but once he felt the adrenaline rush behind the wheel, he was addicted. He's the fastest, fiercest driver around. �Scouting new talent brings me to his doorstep... but his smile sends me to my knees.� The sexy, mysterious Racer Tate is not the kind of man a girl like me falls for. He's secretive, reckless, elusive. But his proximity pushes me beyond reason, and his kiss.... This is our last chance to win, and he is our only hope. I'm supposed to watch him'make sure he doesn't get into trouble. But it's an impossible task. And now the one in heart wrenching, toe-curling, soul-crushing trouble is me. Because when your heart belongs to someone, their truths become your own, and their secrets become your salvation...or your curse. He says he wants me. He says I'm the One. But he also thinks he'll break my heart, one piece at a time until it's gone.

Download or read book Formula One written by Clive Couldwell and published by Virgin Books. This book was released on 2003 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seventy-five per cent of the world's single-seater racing cars are designed and built in Britain. Thanks to this technical know-how, most Grand Prix teams are based in the UK, and many of them have British managers and designers. Through interviewing the sport's key figures, Clive Couldwell is able to reveal what makes this intriguing industry tick and how UK research and development is leading the world.

Download or read book How to Build a Bobber on a Budget written by Jose de Miguel and published by Motorbooks International. This book was released on 2008-02-15 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the old days all a person needed to build a killer custom motorcycle was a bike, a set of tools, a little know-how, and a creative vision. But with the rise of the high-dollar, haute moteur Gucci choppers, the true custom bike has gotten out of most riders’ reach, right? Dead wrong. In this book Jose de Miguel, a custom builder from way back, sets out to prove that those good old days never ended. In the clearest and simplest terms, he shows readers how they can turn odds and ends found around the shop into one-off motorcycle parts--and make a cheap, run-of-the mill custom build into a drop-dead show stopper. Following de Miguel’s lead, along with his straightforward illustrations, any resourceful owner with rudimentary mechanical skills, a basic tool kit, and--most importantly--a modicum of imagination can build the bobber of his dreams for less than the price of a new bike.

Download or read book Outside Groove written by J. A. Ackley and published by . This book was released on 2021-11 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Outside Groove digs deep into the culture of oval-track racing by telling the stories of the undercurrent driving the sport. Renew your faith in racing's future by reading about young drivers working hard to make a name for themselves. Heed advice from seasoned sages who often learned those lessons the hard way. Root for fan favorites as they overcome adversity. Learn more about "racers" who do things other than turn a steering wheel. Gain perspective on hot-button topics such as parts shortages, disqualifications, and world issues affecting the sport. Travel to new places, both in time and locale, as you turn each page. Editors J.A. Ackley and Mike Adaskaveg compiled these incredible accounts of enthralling prose and captivating photography into one riveting read.

Download or read book Pretty Intense written by Danica Patrick and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-12-26 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: America's NASCAR standout offers a 90-day program to sculpt your body, calm your mind, and achieve your greatest goals Everything Danica Patrick does is Pretty Intense. A top athlete in her field, not to mention a fan favorite and the first woman to rule in her male-dominated sport, Danica approaches every aspect of life with the utmost intensity. Now, she shows you how you can apply her daily principles and transform your life for the better--and have fun while doing it. Danica's 90-day high-intensity workout, protein-rich, paleo-inspired eating plan, and mental-conditioning program will get you leaner, stronger, and healthier than you've ever been before. By mixing full-body training and stretching exercises, her accessible workouts hit the holy trinity of fitness: strength, endurance, and flexibility. Bolstered by a customized eating plan for all-day energy, her program will also help you cultivate a mindset for limitless success. You will learn to aim your sights high, confront challenges and setbacks with confidence, and cross the finish line every time. Whether your goal is a stronger core, better skills in the kitchen, or a promotion at work, Danica's Pretty Intense plan will help you reach your highest potential.

Download or read book The Silent Corner written by Dean Koontz and published by Bantam. This book was released on 2017 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When her successful husband inexplicably commits suicide, Jane Hawk searches for answers and discovers that a dangerous and powerful group is somehow forcing accomplished people to take their own lives.