Published shortly after his seventieth birthday, "Ada, or Ardor" is a masterful novel by Nabokov, blending a troubled love story with themes of incest, fairy tales, philosophy, and parody. This edition features a witty appendix by the author under the pseudonym Vivian Darkbloom, showcasing the depth of his imagination.
Now that all the others have run out of air, it's my turn to do a little story-making.In Homer's account in The Odyssey, Penelope—wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy—is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for twenty years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan War after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumors, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca, bring up her wayward son, and keep over a hundred suitors at bay, simultaneously. When Odysseus finally comes home after enduring hardships, overcoming monsters, and sleeping with goddesses, he kills her suitors and—curiously—twelve of her maids.In a splendid contemporary twist to the ancient story, Margaret Atwood has chosen to give the telling of it to Penelope and to her twelve hanged maids, asking: "What led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to?" In Atwood's dazzling, playful retelling, the story becomes as wise and compassionate as it is haunting, and as wildly entertaining as it is disturbing. With wit and verve, drawing on the story-telling and poetic talent for which she herself is renowned, she gives Penelope new life and reality—and sets out to provide an answer to an ancient mystery.
Liz è bella, bionda e ha una vita apparentemente perfetta: una grande casa a New York, un matrimonio invidiabile e un lavoro gratificante. Tuttavia, una notte autunnale la trova in lacrime sul pavimento del bagno, desiderando di essere lontana da tutto ciò. In quel momento, Liz realizza di non volere nulla di ciò che ha e compie un gesto inaspettato: prega. Come reagireste se Dio o qualcosa di simile vi dicesse che avete ragione, che quella vita non è per voi? Liz, dopo una riflessione, decide di raccogliere le forze per il futuro. Affronta un doloroso divorzio e una tumultuosa storia d'amore, ma intravede anche un'opportunità: un anno di viaggio alla scoperta di sé. In questo diario-confessione, l'autrice racconta il suo percorso verso la felicità: in Italia scopre il piacere e stringe amicizie preziose; in India trova la grazia attraverso la meditazione; in Indonesia un misterioso sciamano le insegna a superare la tristezza e a riaprirsi all'amore. "Mangia, prega, ama" è la storia di un'anima irrequieta, con cui è facile identificarsi.
Anastasija Kamenskaja, a successful Moscow detective, intends to recuperate from her lingering back ailment and bring order to her chaotic emotional life at a sanatorium. However, her keen instinct for deception and crime draws her into a mysterious case even far from the Russian metropolis. Strange occurrences unfold in the deceptive tranquility of the small town. Unusual visitors arrive at the sanatorium for just a day or two, and the guests seem to be seeking more than mere relaxation. Nastja notices odd advances from men, suspicious noises on the phone, and unsettling changes in her room. What is happening here? When a murder finally occurs, she is taken aback to find that it is not the local police seeking her assistance in solving the crime, but the Mafia, the true 'guardians' of the city. What role do they play in the deadly game of money and influence that Nastja begins to uncover?