Kirjahaku

The Documentary Imagination in Twentieth-Century French Literature identifies a documentary impulse in French literature that emerges at the end of the nineteenth century and culminates in a proliferation of factual writings in the twenty-first. Focusing on the period bookended by these two moments, it highlights the enduring concern with factual reference in texts that engage either with current events or the historical archive. Specifically, it considers a set of ideas and practices centered on the conceptualization and use of documents. In doing so, it contests the widespread narrative that twentieth-century French literature abandons the realist enterprise, and argues that writers instead renegotiate the realist legacy outside, or at the margins of, the fictional space of the novel. Analyzing works by authors including Gide, Breton, Aragon, Yourcenar, Duras, and Modiano, the book defines a specific documentary mode of literary representation that records, assembles, and investigates material traces of reality. The document is a textual, visual, or material piece of evidence repurposed through its visual insertion, textual transcription, or description within a literary work. It is a fact, but it also becomes a figure, standing for literature's confrontation with the real. The documentary imagination involves a fantasy of direct access to a reality that speaks for itself. At the same time, it gives rise to concrete textual practices that open up new directions for literature, by interrogating the construction and interpretation of facts.

A token of the world's instability and of human powerlessness, chance is inevitably a crucial literary theme. It also presents formal problems: Must the artist struggle against chance in pursuit of a flawless work? Or does chance have a place in the artistic process or product? This book examines the representation and staging of chance in literature through the study of a specific case - the work of the twentieth-century French writer Georges Perec (1936-82).In ""Constraining Chance"", James explores the ways in which Perec's texts exploit the possibilities of chance, by both tapping into its creative potential and controlling its operation. These works, she demonstrates, strive to capture essential aspects of human life: its 'considerable energy' (Perec's phrase), its boundless possibilities, but also the constraints and limitations that bind it. A member of the Ouvroir de litterature potentielle (known as Oulipo), Perec adopted the group's dictum that the literary work should be 'anti-chance' - a product of fully conscious creative processes. James shows how Perec gave this notion a twist, using Oulipian precepts both to explore the role of chance in human existence and to redefine the possibilities of literary form. Thus the investigation of chance links Perec's writing methods, which harness chance for creative purposes, to the thematic exploration of causality, chance, and fate in his writings.

A token of the world's instability and of human powerlessness, chance is inevitably a crucial literary theme. It also presents formal problems: Must the artist struggle against chance in pursuit of a flawless work? Or does chance have a place in the artistic process or product? This book examines the representation and staging of chance in literature through the study of a specific case - the work of the twentieth-century French writer Georges Perec (1936-82).In ""Constraining Chance"", James explores the ways in which Perec's texts exploit the possibilities of chance, by both tapping into its creative potential and controlling its operation. These works, she demonstrates, strive to capture essential aspects of human life: its 'considerable energy' (Perec's phrase), its boundless possibilities, but also the constraints and limitations that bind it. A member of the Ouvroir de litterature potentielle (known as Oulipo), Perec adopted the group's dictum that the literary work should be 'anti-chance' - a product of fully conscious creative processes. James shows how Perec gave this notion a twist, using Oulipian precepts both to explore the role of chance in human existence and to redefine the possibilities of literary form. Thus the investigation of chance links Perec's writing methods, which harness chance for creative purposes, to the thematic exploration of causality, chance, and fate in his writings.

A touching story about a sugar maple tree who finds a lifelong friend when a young girl comes to seek comfort in its branches. For the longest time, Maple was on her own, ignored by the cedars and the pines. All she wanted was a friend she could talk to. Then one day, Rosemary climbs into her branches, sad and searching for a friend of her own. Together they form a bond as real as roots. Through the seasons and across a lifetime, Maple and Rosemary tells a story of true friendship, one in which the experiences we share become a part of who we are. Alison James's spare, eloquent text is accompanied by luminous illustrations that capture the shifting seasons in all their glory, by Jennifer K. Mann, creator of the much-acclaimed picture book, The Camping Trip.

Everyone - from your mother to your boyfriend - is always telling you who you are and who you should be. But who are you, really, and who do you really want to be? New Graduate; Dollarless Diva; Worker Bee; Party Girl; Body-Conscious Babe; Chameleon; Crisis Chick; Ms. Independence; Wirl (half woman/half girl); True You. In The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35, author Alison James takes you on a journey of self-discovery - from wide-eyed ingenue to the real woman you were born to become. You'll learn how to finesse each phase with poise - experimenting with abandon but ultimately keeping only what perfectly fits the True You. With The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35, you'll dare to become the woman you never dreamed you could be

I'm Lucy, and I have a secret I have a beautiful home, that I'm desperate to escape. But that's not my secret. I tell my friends I've never wanted children, when I always have. But that's not my secret. My husband is a celebrated surgeon, who tries to control me. But that's not my secret. Adele knows. Once upon a time, I knew everything about her and she knew everything about me. Best friends forever. But now our secret is beginning to surface. I can trust her more than anyone. We made a pact. And she's never do anything to hurt me. Would she? This absolutely gripping psychological thriller will have you forgetting everything until the last shocking twist. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, Friend Request, and The Girl on the Train will be hooked. Why readers are gripped by The Friendship Pact: 'Wow What a book ... I mean...Well...just Wow ... A really well thought out plot line that the author has turned into an amazing story. This psychological thriller will have the reader on a roller coaster of emotions. It'll take you on a journey that will linger with you long after the story ends... Honestly, just a brilliant all-round novel One I shall definitely be recommending to everyone A well-earned and deserved 5 stars.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A gripping thriller with never-ending twists thrown in.Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be another, one popped up... I gasped with delight and shock I flew through this book in delight and loved every page.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A brilliant read An extraordinary read The characters are well depicted...MUST READ for the summer ... a twisty read with many surprises along the way ' Goodreads reviewer, 5 starsThis throws you into the action from the very first page and doesn't let up until the very last. This is one exceptional book that will keep you up late until the night.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A fast-paced, riveting domestic thriller that had me glued to the edge of my seat for the duration. A brilliant read, this one has me clamouring to devour more from the talented Ms James. I could not put this down... This is a gritty, gripping thrill ride of a read that will have you guessing until the final page.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Fantastic book. So much detail and a brilliant story and the thought gone into the twists and turns is fab... kept me on the edge of my seat brilliant.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'What a whirlwind of a book Great read, loved it, kept me guessing.' Goodreads reviewer 'Wow ... There were so many twists by the end that you were glued to the pages as you never knew what was coming next...Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Discover how Zendaya conquered the worlds of film, TV and fashion to become the face of a generation. This is her life story, as never told before. Zendaya is a phenomenon. Beginning as a precocious child star on the Disney Channel, she has since graduated to adult roles in some of the biggest movies of the last five years, including The Greatest Showman, Dune and Marvel’s Spider-Man trilogy. In television, she is the star of Euphoria, which has become the second most-watched HBO show of all time after Game of Thrones – in large part thanks to her presence. Today she is, according to some industry analysts, "the most popular actor in the world".In this riveting and in-depth biography from the publishers of Harry, Adele and Billie Eilish, journalist and author Alison James explores every aspect of Zendaya’s life and career to date. Featuring a stunning, full-colour photographic plate section and spanning everything from her early forays into music, to her sensational ascent in the fashion world and her high-profile personal life – including her relationship with Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland – this is the most complete portrait yet of one of the world’s hottest stars.

At a luxury resort in Mauritius, two newlywed couples are on honeymoon. On the surface, they seem to have it all. But behind the filtered photos and fake smiles is the truth...Tansy isn't really in love.Daniel is trying to escape the biggest mistake of his life.Nikki's past is catching up with her.Arne's heart is about to be broken.They all have secrets. And before the honeymoon is over, their happiness will be shattered.Because one of them is going to die...This dark, addictive thriller will have you gripped until the final, shocking twist. Fans of Behind Closed Doors, The Guest List and The Wife Between Us will be hooked by the latest page-turner from US top five bestseller Alison James.Why readers are gripped by Alison James: 'I held my breath all the way through, wanting, yet not wanting to know the outcome. Spectacular read.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I gasped out loud and my jaw hit my chest several times. I could not put this book down and just kept on reading to be able to get to the end.' Fiction Vixen Reads'Oh. My. God... I am all tingly inside, filled with excitement of this fast paced, suspenseful, a minute a twist thriller... I had to scream out loud when I finished the book... It took me on a dizzying ride, a perfect roller coaster.' Book Reviews by Shalini, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The perfect marriage. The perfect house. The perfect secret... As I step through the cherry-red door of my new home, I know I should feel like the luckiest woman alive. I have a handsome husband, a beautiful daughter and now the house of my dreams. And to everyone else my life looks perfect... When the neighbours stop by to welcome us, I tell them my name is Stephanie Hamlin and, under the watchful gaze of my husband Richard, I introduce him and our curly haired little girl Poppy. I smile as wide as I can and desperately hope I can fit in to this exclusive place with its pretty communal gardens. Because I've risked everything to be here. Behind closed doors I try to relax, to unwind in the huge clawfoot bath and forget about my complicated past. It's hard being the new couple on the street when you've got secrets. Because the truth is, my charming husband isn't really my husband. And I'm not Stephanie Hamlin... An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. If you love Behind Closed Doors, My Lovely Wife and The Perfect Couple, you'll be hooked. What readers are saying about Alison James: 'Oh my god This had me on the edge of my seat, read it in one sitting... Fantastic... I was completely gripped... Absolutely loved it, totally deserves five stars.' Bonnie's Book Talk, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'WOW This book grabs you in from the first chapter and just doesn't let go. I stayed up until 2am just to finish it, it was that good. Five stars-a must read ' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Wow... I finished this in less than 24 hours, desperate to find out what happened ' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Just brilliant, I loved every page and couldn't put it down... Brilliantly addictive... Left me wanting more... A very worthy five stars from me.' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Totally gripping and addictive, this is definitely one of the best psychological thrillers I've ever read. Such a clever plot, and excellent characters, it will completely pull you in and not let you go until the end.' Sibzzreads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A MUST READ, this book is crying out to be made into a film. A very happy reader and definitely left me wanting more.' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely brilliant So many twists and turns from the start. I was kept on the edge of my seat and enthralled throughout. A hair-raising family psychological thriller. I would highly recommend it.' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

They seemed like the perfect family. But their secrets are about to come out...I push open the door to the beautiful French villa and my clever, handsome husband and adorable wide-eyed children follow me inside, taking in the breath-taking view. This should be a blissful summer break, filled with sun, swimming and relaxation but the truth is very different.Because my husband has just revealed the real reason we're here.When our friends staying at the sprawling villa greet us on the sun-soaked terrace, I smile brightly and attempt to calm my nerves. If I can just behave normally, everything will be fine. But if any one of the people sitting around the clear, blue pool discovers the truth my whole world could be shattered.So I have to pretend we're the perfect family and I'm the perfect wife - all the while knowing that our lies could destroy us. If our secrets begin to unravel, how far will my husband and I go to protect them? And will two weeks in the sun end in murder...?What readers are saying about Alison James: 'One word: WOW ... Brilliant, fast-paced and it kept me guessing throughout... Perfect... From the very first page I was drawn in and I couldn't put the book down, it was so good I read it in a day ' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How well do you know your husband? When Alice Gill sees the little blue line, it's the happiest moment of her life. But her whole world is turned upside down when the police knock at her door minutes later... Her husband, Dominic, is dead. Distraught, Alice goes to identify the body. It's him. Yet when Dominic's estranged brother comes to view the coffin, he insists the man lying there is not Dominic Gill. So who is the man Alice married? And will his secrets put her life in danger too? An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. If you love Behind Closed Doors, My Lovely Wife and Friend Request, you'll be hooked on The Man She Married.What readers are saying about The Man She Married: 'Make sure you have a ton of time on your hands when you finally sit down to read because this book will BLOW YOUR MIND!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Alison uses such vivid and powerful descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself... I was gripped from start to finish and on the edge of my seat throughout the story.' Ginger Book Geek, 5 stars 'Wow... grabs you from the first page and makes you ignore everything else... fantastic.' NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'Totally gripping and addictive, this is definitely one of the best psychological thrillers I've ever read. Such a clever plot, and excellent characters, it will completely pull you in and not let you go until the end.' Sibzzreads 'I could not put this down, it had me gripped all the way through and when I thought I had it figured; bam; the author threw another curve ball in!' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow what a read!... The Man She Married takes you hostage right from the start and keeps a hold of you till the end.' Once Upon a Time Book Blog, 5 stars 'A MUST READ, this book is crying out to be made into a film. A very happy reader and definitely left me wanting more.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Could hardly but this book down, read it in a few hours. So many twists and turns, kept me guessing all the way through!' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'This was a great, gripping, fast-paced story which will definitely keep you hooked until the last page. Highly recommended!!' Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars 'Had me firmly in its grasp from the very first page. The twists just kept coming, and I tore through this one at warp speed in a desperate bid to unravel it all.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'What a brilliant book! I loved this from start to finish... I was completely swept up in the story and characters the whole way through.' LoopyLouLaura 'A fantastic thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat... I couldn't put this book down... The author fully deserves all 5 stars and if I could give more I would.' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'This book is wonderfully addictive. It dark and jam packed with twists and turns. I honestly enjoyed every single page.' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars 'Oh my gosh this story kept me up, to finish it! What a suspenseful book, this story kept me trying to figure it out until the very end.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read... Exceptional.' Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars

An ordinary journey. A shocking secret. And the perfect murder...Hattie travels on the 18.53 train home every night. She sits in the same seat, in the same carriage, and sees the same people. The unwritten rule is you don't talk to your fellow passengers, but Hattie has been watching them all for months now to distract herself from her own troubles.Then one night a commuter suddenly drops dead. And the terrible accident changes everything.In the aftershock of the tragic death, the group of strangers huddled around the two tables in carriage 3 strike up a conversation. Boundaries are shattered, connections are made and Hattie becomes tangled up in the lives of her fellow passengers as they travel to and from London every day.But Hattie has no idea what she's letting herself in for. The ordinary people on her ordinary journey all have dangerous secrets. When another commuter is killed, Hattie suspects someone in carriage 3 is responsible. Who can she trust? And is the truth closer to home and more dangerous than she could have guessed?An absolutely addictive psychological thriller that will keep you up late into the night. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl and The Perfect Couple, you'll be gripped.What readers are saying about Alison James: 'Oh my god This had me on the edge of my seat, read it in one sitting... Fantastic... I was completely gripped... Absolutely loved it, totally deserves five stars.' Bonnie's Book Talk, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'WOW This book grabs you in from the first chapter and just doesn't let go. I stayed up until 2am just to finish it, it was that good. Five stars - a must read ' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Wow, this had me picking up my Kindle at every available opportunity. I finished this in less than 24 hours, desperate to find out what happened ... Kept me gripped from the off... An absolute triumph.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I let her into my home. And now she's destroying my life...I open the creaking oak front door of my beautiful country house to see a stranger on my doorstep. The woman is stunning with glossy red hair and flawless make up. 'Can I help you' I ask.That was my first mistake.Alexis tells me she is a distant relative and shows me a DNA match on her phone. She has no family and would love to get to know us. My husband Hugh invites her in to join our dinner party. As we drink wine, she opens up about her sad childhood. Her amber eyes are mesmerising and I can see my husband is being drawn in by her story. Then she asks for our help.Saying yes was the second mistake.As Alexis and Hugh spend time together, swimming in our luxurious pool and playing tennis in the sunshine, my husband grows distant and the deep cracks in our relationship begin to show. And when our house guest gets me to open up about my marital problems, I start to wonder why she's really here.And then I discover a secret about Alexis that makes my blood run cold.Am I being paranoid? Or will inviting Alexis into our home destroy my marriage? And is it too late to get rid of her, before she puts our lives in danger...?An absolutely addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. For anyone who loves Ruth Ware, Freida McFadden and Claire McGowan.What readers are saying about Alison James: 'One word: WOW ... Brilliant, fast-paced and it kept me guessing throughout... Perfect... From the very first page I was drawn in and I couldn't put the book down, it was so good I read it in a day ' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Absolutely unputdownable ... I loved everything about this book... I found myself desperate to come back to the book ... I would 100% recommend this... my favourite book of the year so far.' @amandasbookcase, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In celebration of the arrival of the fifth in line to the throne, 'Royal Babies - A Heir-Raising History' goes behind Palace doors to discover the pleasures, pain and pitfalls of Royal pregnancies, births and babies through the ages.