Following The Broken Estate, The Irresponsible Self, and How Fiction Works—books that established James Wood as the leading critic of his generation—The Fun Stuff confirms Wood's preeminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of the contemporary novel. In twenty-three passionate, sparkling dispatches—that range over such crucial writers as Thomas Hardy, Leon Tolstoy, Edmund Wilson, and Mikhail Lermontov—Wood offers a panoramic look at the modern novel. He effortlessly connects his encyclopedic, passionate understanding of the literary canon with an equally in-depth analysis of the most important authors writing today, including Cormac McCarthy, Lydia Davis, Aleksandar Hemon, and Michel Houellebecq. Included in The Fun Stuff are the title essay on Keith Moon and the lost joys of drumming—which was a finalist for last year's National Magazine Awards—as well as Wood's essay on George Orwell, which Christopher Hitchens selected for the Best American Essays 2010. The Fun Stuff is indispensable reading for anyone who cares about contemporary literature.

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

The story of a kind of poverty in America so deep that we, as a country, don't even think exists—from a leading national poverty expert who “defies convention.”

(The New York Times)

Jessica Compton’s family of four would have no income if she didn’t donate plasma twice a week at her local donation center in Tennessee. Modonna Harris and her teenage daughter, Brianna, in Chicago, often have no food but spoiled milk on weekends. After two decades of brilliant research on American poverty, Kathryn Edin noticed something she hadn’t seen before—households surviving on virtually no cash income. Edin teamed with Luke Shaefer, an expert on calculating incomes of the poor, to discover that the number of American families living on $2.00 per person, per day, was one and a half million households, including about three million children. Where do these families live? How did they get so desperately poor? Through this book’s eye-opening analysis and many compelling profiles, moving and startling answers emerge. $2.00 a Day delivers provocative ideas to our national debate on income inequality. “Powerful . . . Presents a deeply moving human face that brings the stunning numbers to life. It is an explosive book . . . The stories will make you angry and break your heart.”—American Prospect “Harrowing . . . [An] important and heart-rending book, in the tradition of Michael Harrington’s The Other America.”—Los Angeles Times

I am the Ebon Queen's daughter of shadow, but I am not hers.She has threatened my men and if she harms them, I will unleash dark magic.Would my shadows defeat the queen—or strengthen my bond to her instead?The dragon flights have returned but they throw our plans into disarray. Their First-Born will destroy everything that stands between them and their desire to end the Ebon Queen—and that could include me. Luin offers to help but I’m unsure he wants to become more than my guardian, and the men now question whether an alliance is possible with such creatures.We return to our realm to make our next move but not all agree with Leander's decision to return to the stronghold. Devin and Rohan fear for our lives should we walk through the gates, but we may have no choice. Is Leander's position as High Lord enough to keep our group safe if we follow his plans?The Ebon Queen's forces have destroyed more of the land we travel through, and we face more challenges as we pass through the towns. Ebon elves and her dragon consort Cadenor pursue us as the queen steps up the crusade to bring me to her court. I fear that if she cannot take me, she will take my men.I'm prepared to face the Ebon Queen and the darkness within myself, but instead she forces an impossible choice on me.I am a daughter of shadow, and this is who I must become, or I could lose everything. Shadow Throne is the last book in the Daughter of Shadow why choose romantic fantasy series from USA Today Bestselling author LJ Swallow. If you enjoy slow burn, action-packed, fantasy romance set in unique worlds, you'll love this series with irresistible elves, a fierce warrior, a seductive lord, a strong magical heroine, and a dragon with a secret.

Grim(ace) while you work ... Aisling Grimlock is having a bad week. Well, actually, she’s having a bad life -- not that she's complaining. Okay, she's totally complaining. After being laid off from her secretarial position, she has no choice but to join the family business, and now she’s a full-time grim reaper. That’s right. She collects and transfers souls to the hereafter. Cool, huh? Not quite. On the second day of her new job, Aisling (literally!) stumbles over a dead body that’s not on her list and the stakes are suddenly raised because, when a name isn’t on the list, that means someone stole it (and that's never a good thing). Aisling’s family, which consists of a tempestuous father and four overbearing older brothers, are hot on the case – but the answers they’re coming up with aren’t exactly soothing. It seems a contingent of wraiths have descended on the area, and they’re not just dangerous for unsuspecting souls and the general populace. The Grimlock family is at risk, too. If that weren’t bad enough, Aisling finds herself inexplicably drawn to Detective Griffin Taylor – the police officer who considers her a murder suspect. Oh, and she's a wraith-magnet -- although, truth be told, she's more interested in Detective Taylor. Aisling is determined to prove that she has what it takes to be a great reaper – even if it means risking her life and proving her father and brothers wrong when it comes to her competence level. When things finally become clear, will Aisling survive long enough to make things right? Or, will she fall prey to the wraiths and the individual controlling them?