The Taxidermist's Daughter

The Taxidermist's Daughter PDF Author: Kate Mosse
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 006240217X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 346

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Book Description
A young amnesiac spinster contends with missing persons and murder in this gothic thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author of Labyrinth. 1912—In a remote village near the coast in Sussex, residents gather in a churchyard. More than a decade into the twentieth century, superstition still holds sway: It is St. Mark’s Eve, the night when the shimmering ghosts of those fated to die in the coming year are said to materialize and amble through the church doors. In the crowd is Constantia Gifford, the taxidermist’s daughter. Twenty-two and unmarried, she lives with her father in a decaying mansion cluttered with the remains of his once world-famous museum of taxidermy. No one speaks of why the museum was shuttered or how the Giffords fell so low. Connie herself has no recollection—a childhood accident has erased all memory of her earlier days. The locals shun Blackthorn House and the strange spinster who practices her father’s macabre art. When a woman is found dead—a stranger Connie noticed near the church—snippets of long-lost memories begin to tease through Connie’s mind, offering her glimpses of her vanished years. Who is the victim, and why has her death affected Connie so deeply? Why is she watched by a mysterious figure who has suddenly appeared on the nearby marsh? The answers are tied to a dark secret that lies at the heart of Blackthorn House, hidden among the bell jars of her father’s workshop—a mystery that draws Connie closer to danger . . . closer to madness . . . closer to the startling truth. Praise for The Taxidermist’s Daughter “The Taxidermist’s Daughter is amazing―atmospheric, gripping . . . I can’t put it down.” —Marian Keyes, author of This Charming Man “A superb, atmospheric thriller.” —Daily Mail (UK) “[A] fruitful use of meticulous research. A well-written page-turner.” —Historical Novel Society

The Taxidermist's Daughter

The Taxidermist's Daughter PDF Author: Kate Mosse
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 006240217X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 346

Get Book Here

Book Description
A young amnesiac spinster contends with missing persons and murder in this gothic thriller by the New York Times–bestselling author of Labyrinth. 1912—In a remote village near the coast in Sussex, residents gather in a churchyard. More than a decade into the twentieth century, superstition still holds sway: It is St. Mark’s Eve, the night when the shimmering ghosts of those fated to die in the coming year are said to materialize and amble through the church doors. In the crowd is Constantia Gifford, the taxidermist’s daughter. Twenty-two and unmarried, she lives with her father in a decaying mansion cluttered with the remains of his once world-famous museum of taxidermy. No one speaks of why the museum was shuttered or how the Giffords fell so low. Connie herself has no recollection—a childhood accident has erased all memory of her earlier days. The locals shun Blackthorn House and the strange spinster who practices her father’s macabre art. When a woman is found dead—a stranger Connie noticed near the church—snippets of long-lost memories begin to tease through Connie’s mind, offering her glimpses of her vanished years. Who is the victim, and why has her death affected Connie so deeply? Why is she watched by a mysterious figure who has suddenly appeared on the nearby marsh? The answers are tied to a dark secret that lies at the heart of Blackthorn House, hidden among the bell jars of her father’s workshop—a mystery that draws Connie closer to danger . . . closer to madness . . . closer to the startling truth. Praise for The Taxidermist’s Daughter “The Taxidermist’s Daughter is amazing―atmospheric, gripping . . . I can’t put it down.” —Marian Keyes, author of This Charming Man “A superb, atmospheric thriller.” —Daily Mail (UK) “[A] fruitful use of meticulous research. A well-written page-turner.” —Historical Novel Society

The Taxidermist's Daughter

The Taxidermist's Daughter PDF Author: Kate Mosse
Publisher: Phoenix
ISBN: 1409153789
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 355

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Book Description
The enthralling new Sunday Times bestselling gothic novel from the author of THE WINTER GHOSTS, LABYRINTH and THE CITY OF LIES The clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wind and the remorseless tolling of the bell, no one can hear the scream . . . 1912. A Sussex churchyard. Villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will not survive the coming year are thought to walk. And in the shadows, a woman lies dead. As the flood waters rise, Connie Gifford is marooned in a decaying house with her increasingly tormented father. He drinks to escape the past, but an accident has robbed her of her most significant childhood memories. Until the disturbance at the church awakens fragments of those vanished years . . .

The Taxidermist's Daughter

The Taxidermist's Daughter PDF Author: Kate Mosse
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 1409153789
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 355

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Book Description
The enthralling new Sunday Times bestselling gothic novel from the author of THE WINTER GHOSTS, LABYRINTH and THE CITY OF LIES The clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wind and the remorseless tolling of the bell, no one can hear the scream . . . 1912. A Sussex churchyard. Villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will not survive the coming year are thought to walk. And in the shadows, a woman lies dead. As the flood waters rise, Connie Gifford is marooned in a decaying house with her increasingly tormented father. He drinks to escape the past, but an accident has robbed her of her most significant childhood memories. Until the disturbance at the church awakens fragments of those vanished years . . .

Still Life

Still Life PDF Author: Melissa Milgrom
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 0547487053
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 277

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Book Description
After her curiosity is piqued by a safari gone awry, a journalist delves into the curious world of taxidermy and shares her findings. It’s easy to dismiss taxidermy as a kitschy or morbid sideline, the realm of trophy fish and jackalopes or an anachronistic throwback to the dusty diorama. Yet theirs is a world of intrepid hunter-explorers, eccentric naturalists, and gifted museum artisans, all devoted to the paradoxical pursuit of creating the illusion of life. Into this subculture of passionate animal-lovers ventures journalist Melissa Milgrom, whose journey stretches from the anachronistic family workshop of the last chief taxidermist for the American Museum of Natural History to the studio where an English sculptor, granddaughter of a surrealist artist, preserves the animals for Damien Hirst’s most disturbing artworks. She wanders through Mr. Potter’s Museum of Curiosities in the final days of its existence to watch dealers vie for preserved Victorian oddities, and visits the Smithsonian’s offsite lab, where taxidermists transform zoo skins into vivacious beasts. She tags along with a Canadian bear trapper and former Roy Orbison impersonator—the three-time World Taxidermy Champion—as he resurrects an extinct Irish elk using DNA studies and Paleolithic cave art for reference; she even ultimately picks up a scalpel and stuffs her own squirrel. Transformed from a curious onlooker to an empathetic participant, Milgrom takes us deep into the world of taxidermy and reveals its uncanny appeal. “Hilarious but respectful.” —Washington Post “Engrossing.” —New Yorker “[A] delightful debut . . . Milgrom has in Still Life opened up a whole world to readers.” —Chicago Tribune “Milgrom’s lively account will appeal to readers who enjoyed Mary Roach’s quirky science books.” —Library Journal

The Taxidermist's Lover

The Taxidermist's Lover PDF Author: Polly Hall
Publisher: CamCat Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 0744300398
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
From award-winning author Polly Hallcomes a “lyrical debut” (Booklist, Starred Review) and contemporary gothic tale “filled with startling conclusions about the nature of art and love and death” (NYT Book Review). A modern Gothic tale of a woman obsessed with her lover’s taxidermy creatures and haunted by her past. One stormy Christmas, Scarlett recalls the ebb and flow of a yearlong love affair with Henry, a renowned taxidermist. Obsessed with his taxidermy creatures, she pushes him to outdo his colleague and world-famous rival in a crescendo of species-blending creativity. Scarlett will not be able to avoid a reckoning with her own past as Henry’s inventions creep into her own thoughts, dreams, and desires. Drenched in the torrential rains of the Somerset moorland and the sensual pleasures of the characters, The Taxidermist’s Lover lures you ever deeper into Scarlett’s delightfully eerie world. Bram Stoker Award Shortlist for Superior Achievement in a First Novel • IPPY Awards 2021 Gold Medal Winner

Mostly Dead Things

Mostly Dead Things PDF Author: Kristen Arnett
Publisher: Tin House Books
ISBN: 1947793314
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
The celebrated New York Times Bestseller A Best Book of the Year pick at the New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, TIME, Washington Post, Oprahmag.com, Thrillist, Shelf Awareness, Good Housekeeping and more. What does it take to come back to life? For Jessa-Lynn Morton, the question is not an abstract one. In the wake of her father’s suicide, Jessa has stepped up to manage his failing taxidermy business while the rest of the Morton family crumbles. Her mother starts sneaking into the taxidermy shop to make provocative animal art, while her brother, Milo, withdraws. And Brynn, Milo’s wife—and the only person Jessa’s ever been in love with—walks out without a word. It’s not until the Mortons reach a tipping point that a string of unexpected incidents begins to open up surprising possibilities and second chances. But will they be enough to salvage this family, to help them find their way back to one another? Kristen Arnett’s breakout bestseller is a darkly funny family portrait; a peculiar, bighearted look at love and loss and the ways we live through them together.

Wake the Bones

Wake the Bones PDF Author: Elizabeth Kilcoyne
Publisher: Wednesday Books
ISBN: 1250790832
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 235

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Book Description
"YA horror has found a new standard-bearer." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Dark, gripping, and gorgeous, Wake the Bones will lead you into the woods and keep you up late. As lush and sweltering as a Kentucky summer... Elizabeth Kilcoyne is a force.” - Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author The sleepy little farm that Laurel Early grew up on has awakened. The woods are shifting, the soil is dead under her hands, and her bone pile just stood up and walked away. After dropping out of college, all she wanted was to resume her life as a tobacco hand and taxidermist and try not to think about the boy she can’t help but love. Instead, a devil from her past has returned to court her, as he did her late mother years earlier. Now, Laurel must unravel her mother’s terrifying legacy and tap into her own innate magic before her future and the fate of everyone she loves is doomed. Elizabeth Kilcoyne’s Wake the Bones is a dark, atmospheric debut about the complicated feelings that arise when the place you call home becomes hostile. "Seething with shadows, summer, and uniquely southern magic, Wake the Bones is a powerful debut that captures the ache of home being a place you simultaneously love and loathe." - Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls

Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls PDF Author: David Sedaris
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316125687
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
A guy walks into a bar car and... From here the story could take many turns. When this guy is David Sedaris, the possibilities are endless, but the result is always the same: he will both delight you with twists of humor and intelligence and leave you deeply moved. Sedaris remembers his father's dinnertime attire (shirtsleeves and underpants), his first colonoscopy (remarkably pleasant), and the time he considered buying the skeleton of a murdered Pygmy. With Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, David Sedaris shows once again why his work has been called "hilarious, elegant, and surprisingly moving" (Washington Post).

The Art of Taxidermy

The Art of Taxidermy PDF Author: Sharon Kernot
Publisher: Text Publishing
ISBN: 1925626725
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
Shortlisted for the 2017 Text Prize Lottie collects dead creatures and lovingly cares for them, hoping to preserve them, to save them from disintegration. Her father understands—Lottie has a scientific mind, he thinks. Her aunt wants it to stop, and she goes to cruel lengths to make sure it does. And her mother? Lottie’s mother died long ago. And Lottie is searching for a way to be close to her. The Art of Taxidermy is a heartbreaking verse novel exploring love and death, grief and beauty, and the ways we try to make sense of it all. Sharon Kernot writes poetry and fiction. Her work has appeared in a variety of journals, magazines and anthologies including Island, Mascara Literary Journal, Best Australian Poems, and Australian Love Stories. ‘Completely mesmerising, fresh and unexpected.’ Diana Sweeney, winner of 2013 Text Prize ‘An intense exploration of grief.’ Steven Herrick ‘[An] exquisite lyrical verse novel...[A] sharply evocative tale.’ West Weekend ‘The work couples the swift, clipped charm of a verse novel and the unpredictable beauty of the Australian landscape in a captivating manner that showcases an author entirely comfortable with her form...Lingers in the mind for weeks afterwards.’ Tulpa Magazine ‘Kernot has created an intriguing tale of mystery and the imagination with a haunting ambience that the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe would recognise and admire...this is a delightful story about grief transformed and the urge to resurrect and to re-create.’ Saturday Paper ‘This book is beautifully written...while the novel is about grief, it is also about the importance of remembering and keeping the memory of loved ones alive.’ Magpies Magazine ‘In lyrical language, Kernot draws a comparison between the Australian bush and death: both are beautiful and desolate at once.’ Readings ‘Kernot’s writing is imbued with life and grace and moments of infectious joy.’ SA Weekend

The Art of Being a Woman

The Art of Being a Woman PDF Author: Patricia Volk
Publisher: Hutchinson
ISBN: 9780091944575
Category : Beauty, Personal
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
Patricia Volk's glittering memoir, written with charm, panache and wit, juxtaposes the lives of two women - the iconoclastic fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli and the author's own mother - to tell the story of how young Patricia fashioned herself into a woman. Patricia Volk's mother Audrey was an upper-middle class New Yorker, a great beauty, a perfectionist, and a polished hostess who believed in women doing things the proper way. The iconoclastic Italian fashion designer, Elsa Schiaparelli, on the other hand, never found a rule she didn't want to break. One of fashion's most radical provocateurs, she was a cultural revolutionary who embodied the 'daring'. For Patricia, who read Schiap's 'scandalous' autobiography, Shocking Life, at a tender age, these two women offered fabulously contrasting lessons in everything from fashion, make-up, lingerie, family and entertaining, to love, sex, superstition and gambling - lessons that would stay with her for the rest of her life. Moving seamlessly between the Volks' 1950s Manhattan home and Schiap's astonishing life in New York, Rome and Paris (among pals like Dali, Duchamp, Picasso), The Art of Being a Woman weaves Audrey's notions of female domesticity with Schiap's groundbreaking creative vision to tell the witty, wise and utterly delightful story of how a young girl learned that there is more than one way to be a woman.