Jessica Anya Blau è l'autrice del romanzo bestseller nazionale The Summer of Naked Swim Parties e del libro acclamato dalla critica Drinking Closer to Home. Il suo lavoro approfondisce le complessità delle relazioni umane e la ricerca dell'identità.
"Almost Famous meets Daisy Jones and the Six in this funny, wise and tender novel about a fourteen-year-old girl's coming of age in 1970s Baltimore, caught between her straight-laced family and the progressive family she nannies for - who happen to be secretly hiding a famous rock star and his movie star wife for the summer"--
A highly entertaining account of a young woman who went straight from her college sorority to the CIA, where she hunted terrorists and WMDs When Tracy Walder enrolled at the University of Southern California, she never thought that one day she would offer her pink beanbag chair in the Delta Gamma house to a CIA recruiter, or that she'd fly to the Middle East under an alias identity. The Unexpected Spy is the riveting story of Walder's tenure in the CIA and, later, the FBI. In high-security, steel-walled rooms in Virginia, Walder watched al-Qaeda members with drones as President Bush looked over her shoulder and CIA Director George Tenet brought her donuts. She tracked chemical terrorists and searched the world for Weapons of Mass Destruction. She created a chemical terror chart that someone in the White House altered to convey information she did not have or believe, leading to the Iraq invasion. Driven to stop terrorism, Walder debriefed terrorists-men who swore they'd never speak to a woman-until they gave her leads. She followed trails through North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, shutting down multiple chemical attacks. Then Walder moved to the FBI, where she worked in counterintelligence. In a single year, she helped take down one of the most notorious foreign spies ever caught on American soil. Catching the bad guys wasn't a problem in the FBI, but rampant sexism was. Walder left the FBI to teach young women, encouraging them to find a place in the FBI, CIA, State Department or the Senate-and thus change the world
Expect a rollercoaster of emotions that will have you laughing and crying in public. The author, known for his wit, promises a heartfelt journey that balances humor with poignant moments, ensuring an engaging and relatable experience for readers.
Set against a backdrop of significant cultural change, the narrative explores the complexities of a captivating yet frustrating family as they navigate their coming-of-age journey. With a blend of humor and compassion, the story delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the impact of one's origins on personal destiny. It reveals how closely intertwined our beginnings and endings can be, offering a profound insight into the human experience.
Set in 1983 Berkeley, California, the story follows twenty-year-old Allie Dodgson, a diligent college student whose life takes a dramatic turn when her part-time job at a dress shop reveals itself as a cover for a drug operation. Suddenly on the run, Allie races to Los Angeles with a bag of cocaine and a relentless hitman named Vice Versa pursuing her. This fast-paced narrative promises an exhilarating summer adventure filled with danger and unexpected twists.
Lexie James's journey of resilience unfolds as she rises from a troubled childhood marked by abandonment and instability. After overcoming her past, she achieves academic success with a master's degree, finds love with a kind fiancé, and secures a counseling position at the prestigious Ruxton Academy, catering to the elite's children. Her story highlights themes of perseverance, personal growth, and the challenges of navigating a world of privilege while grappling with her own history.
Na pokraji slávy se potkává s Daisy Jones & The Six ve vtipném, moudrém a citlivém románu o dospívání. Baltimore, 70. léta. Čtrnáctiletá Mary Jane ráda vaří s matkou, zpívá v kostelním sboru a těší se z výběru těch nejlepších broadwayských muzikálů, který si její rodina předplácí. Coby stydlivá zakřiknutá knihomolka má radost, když se jí podaří získat letní brigádu jako chůva v rodině místního doktora. Počestná práce, jak říká její matka, v počestném domě. Zvenčí dům počestně opravdu vypadá, ale uvnitř panuje doslova i přeneseně chaos: všude harampádí, dveře polepené samolepkami vyzývajícími k odvolání prezidenta Richarda Nixona, k večeři cereálie a donáškové jídlo z restaurace. A co je ještě horší (kdyby o tom věděla Mary Janeina matka, což neví), doktor je psychiatr a celé léto si vyhradil na důležitou práci: pomáhá jedné slavné rockové hvězdě s odvykací léčbou. Týden poté, co Mary Jane nastoupí do rodiny jako chůva, se rocker do domu nastěhuje i s manželkou, proslulou herečkou. Jak léto ubíhá, Mary Jane seznámí svou novou domácnost s nažehleným oblečením a pravidelnými večeřemi a na oplátku dostane jízdenku do liberálního světa sexu, drog a rock’n’rollu (nemluvě o skupinové terapii). Chycená mezi životním stylem, který znala, a budoucností, o níž si teprve teď uvědomila, že je vůbec možná, Mary Jane s příchodem září získá úplně novou představu o tom, co od života chce a jakým člověkem hodlá být.
