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Austenistan
by Laaleen SukheraHeiress Kamila Mughal is humiliated when her brother's best friend snubs her to marry a social climbing nobody from Islamabad. Roya discovers her fiancé has been cheating on her and ends up on a blind date on her wedding day. Beautiful young widow Begum Saira Qadir has mourned her husband, but is she finally ready to start following her own desires? Inspired by Jane Austen and set in contemporary Pakistan, Austenistan is a collection of seven stories; romantic, uplifting, witty, and heartbreaking by turn, which pay homage to the world's favourite author in their own uniquely local way.
The Bitter Pill Social Club
by Rohan DahiyaYou know exactly who they are. The ones who walk right past club lines, who walk into rooms and make you swoon. You've felt their Gucci-anointed aura in a city paved with mildly good intentions and cocaine lines. It's a familiar cast: the centre of attention, the shameless flirt, the loudmouth, the narcissistic writer. It's a familiar setting: a city of smooth talkers, armchair activists, and the rich brats of Instagram wrapped up in cigarette smoke. A place to talk pop spirituality and purple prose in connoisseur-only jazz clubs. Now watch them without an audience. The Bitter Pill Social Club takes a look at the lives of the Kochhar family, who find themselves drifting apart in the city of gins and fake friends, wrapped in cigarette smoke. As one of their own gears up to tie the knot, three siblings come home to the neurotic parents who raised them. Meanwhile the parents face the family patriarch's constant judgment. Divorce, disappointment, and disasters ensue as the entitled Kochhar brood dodges old lovers and marriage proposals.
Bathinda to Bangkok
by Vibha BatraIs it going to be Mahi Way, or the Highway for Mahi? Mahi's back in the pavilion, but, ji, her dreams got mixed with mud. Hopes got crushum-crushed. Heart became pieces-pieces. As if life isn't tatti enough, one after another new-new siyapas are starting. Mahi's hungry to grow Ludhiana to London, her party-planning company, to international height. Lavith, her international returned ex-love, is thirsty for her blood. Leave work-life balance, she's toh losing mental balance.Her BFF (Bechari Frustoo Friend) Dingy's to-be-in-laws are refusing first night in Bangkok. Her other BFF, Dumpy's refusing to go anywhere without his Combo Pack -- his Sweet Knife GF Simran and her paindu brother Raj. Her brother Niku's business problem is not saying bye-bye. And her stepmom Bhooto (short for Bhootni) is – hai-hai – don't ask. But the question bothering her the most is: Will her ex come back to her? Will it be Lav-ith or Leave-it for Mahi?
Score!
by Aarti V RamanBrighabujamba 'Bee' Vishwanathan hates her name, her current job at Krikket-365 and cricket itself. To keep her job, Bee has to score an exclusive with a member of the Indian team before the T20 World Cup final. When she falls on to the hotel balcony of broody assistant coach Arhan Kapoor while trying to spy on the team, Bee does not think her life could get worse.Arhan loves cricket with a passion that is only rivalled by his hatred of journalists. After the team is affected by the untimely death of their vice-captain, he has only two mandates: motivate the players to a win and keep them away from the media. A nosy reporter managing to full toss her way into the team is his worst nightmare.However, when the team's physiotherapist turns up dead and someone makes an attempt on Bee's life, she and Arhan have to join forces to investigate those out to sabotage India's chances at the Cup. Can two people on opposite sides of a pitch trust each other and bring down a cold-blooded killer? Or will the match end before the last ball is bowled?
Dear Men: Masculinity and Modern Love in #MeToo India
by Prachi Gangwani'I really loved her but I broke up with her because my mother didn't think she would adjust in our family.' – Raul, engineer, 29~'I liked being angry. I wanted to hate the world, be angry, so I didn't have to be sad.' – Dhairya, photographer, 34~'I want a harem. But I want to be the only guy in a woman's life.' – Dushyant, lawyer, 27 In startling, often revelatory interviews Dear Men shows how Indian men across ages navigate romantic relationships in a country that is still teetering on the cusp of modern and traditional. Direct, often tongue-in-cheek, accessible and engaging, the book is an investigation of what sexual boundaries really mean to Indian men, how they deal with online dating, manage traditional gender roles, talk about their mental health, if they think romance is still relevant, what marriage means to them, and why they hurt the women they love. Dear Men hopes to start an honest and open dialogue with Indian men about subjects that are becoming more and more relevant as movements like #MeToo gain traction.
The Helicopters Are Down
by Indira ParthasarathyHurtling towards a midlife crisis, Amirtham is down - but not out. Caught in a sorry vortex of self-denial and what-could-have-been, the discontented government official wants to do the impossible - be young again. Having decided that his marriage is sparkless and his spouse unremarkable, he decides to woo a much younger theatre actress who vaguely resembles his witty and opinionated ex. As Amirtham gives into self-aggrandizing visions - glamorizing a humdrum life coming apart at the seams - he flails and fails in the tangles of his own making. In this deeply insightful novel, both endearing and heartbreaking, urban Delhi of early seventies is brought alive by Tamil literary icon, Sahitya Akademi fellow and Padma Shri-awardee Indira Parthasarathy. Hilarious, reflective and wise, this moving tale expertly courses through unsettling remorse, directionless passion, and the fragile business of loving and being loved.
Classic Horror: A Historical Exploration of Literature (Historical Explorations of Literature)
by Anne DeLongA valuable resource for readers exploring the classic horror genre, this book presents primary source documents alongside analysis in an examination of the social, political, and economic factors reflected in 19th century Gothic literature.The nineteenth century was a time of social, cultural, and economic change; revolutionary scientific developments; and enduring imaginative works. This book explores the classic horror genre of Gothic literature in its historical and social contexts. It contains chapters on four major works of classic horror, with each chapter providing a mix of background information, primary source historical documents, and analysis that will appeal as much to high school and college students as to lovers of literature and the Victorian era.Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is contextualized through documents pertaining to British imperialism, Antarctic Exploration, and the burgeoning environmentalist movement. Shelley's Frankenstein is explored through sections on galvanism, electricity, grave robbing, and the vitalist debate. Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is read through explanations of nineteenth-century drug use and addiction and early theories of psychology and criminology. Stoker's Dracula is studied with reference to such topics as mesmerism, clairvoyance, alienism, medical ethics, xenophobia, and Victorian pseudoscience.
The Illusion of Intimacy: Problems in the World of Online Dating
by John C. BridgesThis book examines online dating from the "inside," using in-depth interviews with dating website members to reveal—and keenly analyze—what relationships and romance in the 21st century are really like.The members of the current generation of "digital guinea pigs" are true social pioneers as they embrace digital technology to create a new realm of mating, dating, and intimacy in America. Ironically, "digital dating" frequently results in an outcome that is exactly opposite to its participants' intended purposes. The Illusion of Intimacy: Problems in the World of Online Dating is more than a thorough investigation of the realities of modern relationships, many of which begin online—one in five, according to Match.com; the book introduces the reader to some of the natives and industry "users" who make up its clientele. Author John C. Bridges shows how they have adapted to technology to find new interactions, meet new partners, and share new experiences. The research focuses on the dating sites ranked in the top five by actual members of these sites who interviewed with the author to share their personal stories and experiences, all documented by saved emails and text messages.
Love Affairs: The Therapeutic Guide to Sound Thinking and Smart Moves after Infidelity (Sex, Love, and Psychology)
by Joel Block Ph.D.A psychologist specializing in couples therapy provides an honest and compassionate guide to dealing with a spouse's or partner's love affair, from the one-night stand to the grand amour.As a result of innovative technologies and a globalized world, temptation and opportunity often intersect, allowing infidelity to increasingly create problems between spouses, partners, and other couplings in which at least one person expects exclusive intimacy. In this timely work, noted couples therapist Joel Block examines the challenges of affairs, including types of affairs; their motivations and effects; and how to repair and improve a relationship, or part ways, after an affair. Questions addressed include: "What is the motivation?", "Is it a result of deep dissatisfaction? Or not a reflection of the relationship at all?", and "Can relationships be affair-proofed?" Providing vignettes from the author's therapy sessions to illustrate points, the book also explains how to respond to discovery; minimize disruption in the lives of children; and when separation or divorce is the chosen solution, understand new modes of "conscious de-coupling" that keep post-breakup life stable as well as satisfying. A lifeline for recovering from crisis, this text will interest general readers looking for advice to react to, cope with, or avoid infidelity, as well as students and professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, and social work.
Encyclopedia of Romance Fiction
by Editor Kristin RamsdellAs the first encyclopedia solely devoted to the popular romance fiction genre, this resource provides a wealth of information on all aspects of the subject.Romance fiction accounts for a large share of book sales each year, and contrary to popular belief, not all of its readers are women: roughly 16 percent are men. This enormously popular genre continues to captivate people reading for pleasure, and it also commands a growing amount of academic interest. Included are alphabetically arranged reference entries on significant authors along with works, themes, and other topics. The articles are written by scholars, librarians, and industry professionals with a deep knowledge of the genre and so provide a thorough understanding of the subject. An index provides easy access to information within the entries, and bibliographies at the end of each entry, a general bibliography, and a suggested romance reading list allow for further study of the genre.
Horror as Racism in H. P. Lovecraft: White Fragility in the Weird Tales
by Dr. or Prof. John L. SteadmanProviding a new perspective on Lovecraft's life and work, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft focuses on the overlap between the writer's personal beliefs and the racist images and narratives in his speculative fiction. Building on recent debates about Lovecraft and drawing on the concept of "white fragility," John Steadman argues that the writer's fiction reflects his feelings of resentment and anger towards non-white persons and was used to advocate for his racist, xenophobic political beliefs – that western civilization was in decline and slavery was justifiable among "superior" civilizations. In making these claims, Lovecraft's tales pit humans against extra-terrestrial aliens, developing a terrifying, futuristic vision of the Earth as a plantation planet. The familiar image of Lovecraft as a reclusive, creative genius and mentor to young writer-friends is dismantled through close readings of his fiction and nonfiction – including correspondence, essays, and poetry – and examination of his early biography. This image is replaced by that of a cruel, callous, and, at times, psychotic man, a violently vitriolic racist and white supremacist who hated most of the non-white races. While some will dismiss the author outright and others will read his fiction but ignore the racism, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft takes a middle ground: acknowledging Lovecraft's personal history and heinous intentions, it helps readers navigate the author's disturbing biography while also getting a better sense of the stories, which remain significant within American science fiction.
Horror as Racism in H. P. Lovecraft: White Fragility in the Weird Tales
by Dr. or Prof. John L. SteadmanProviding a new perspective on Lovecraft's life and work, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft focuses on the overlap between the writer's personal beliefs and the racist images and narratives in his speculative fiction. Building on recent debates about Lovecraft and drawing on the concept of "white fragility," John Steadman argues that the writer's fiction reflects his feelings of resentment and anger towards non-white persons and was used to advocate for his racist, xenophobic political beliefs – that western civilization was in decline and slavery was justifiable among "superior" civilizations. In making these claims, Lovecraft's tales pit humans against extra-terrestrial aliens, developing a terrifying, futuristic vision of the Earth as a plantation planet. The familiar image of Lovecraft as a reclusive, creative genius and mentor to young writer-friends is dismantled through close readings of his fiction and nonfiction – including correspondence, essays, and poetry – and examination of his early biography. This image is replaced by that of a cruel, callous, and, at times, psychotic man, a violently vitriolic racist and white supremacist who hated most of the non-white races. While some will dismiss the author outright and others will read his fiction but ignore the racism, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft takes a middle ground: acknowledging Lovecraft's personal history and heinous intentions, it helps readers navigate the author's disturbing biography while also getting a better sense of the stories, which remain significant within American science fiction.