I believe the stories we live are just as important as the stories we decide to read. Growing up, my family always went on trips that revolved around exploring what nature had to offer. I fell in love at an early age with places where the mountains seem to touch the skies, or the ocean challenges the vibrance of every shade of blue I ever dreamed could exist. This itch for adventure seemed to be born in me alongside my love of reading and writing, and the same emotions I experience when hiking up a steep trail or sweating in the desert are those I love in stories. Adventure on!
This book is like taking a step inside a dream. For me, it had everything I could ever ask for from a novel—lyrical prose, gorgeous imagery, fun and lovable characters, a little bit of quirk, and a rare depth at the heart of it. Nature is a major element, taking place in Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan, Mississippi, and Montana. The writing is so vivid it immerses you in the adventure, making it feel as though you’re walking beneath the pines, smelling the gulf coast air, or simply marveling in the beauty of the natural world alongside Wylan, the quirky and heroic protagonist.
"Told with brains and heart" —Michelle Gable, New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment
"Bristles with charm and curiosity" —Winston Groom, New York Times bestselling author of Forrest Gump
"A wholly original and superbly crafted work of art, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is a masterpiece of the imagination." —Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List and Sweet Forgiveness
"Charlotte's Web for grown-ups who, like Weylyn Grey, have their own stories of being different, feared, brave, and loved." —Mo Daviau, author of Every Anxious Wave
This book follows the true story of Chris McCandless, a young hitchhiker who abandoned all societal ties to go on a journey across the country, eventually leading to his death in the Alaskan wilderness. Through interviews and McCandless’ journal, Krakauer pieces together the last few years of his life, sharing the revelations and hardships Chris experienced along the way. It is a beautifully well-written story, one that many of us itching for adventure might be tempted to romanticize. The lesson at the core of this story is that we should never take for granted the people that love us. It also serves as a poignant reminder that adventure must come with a respect for the world around us, and a knowledge of just how small we are within it.
Krakauer’s page-turning bestseller explores a famed missing person mystery while unraveling the larger riddles it holds: the profound pull of the American wilderness on our imagination; the allure of high-risk activities to young men of a certain cast of mind; the complex, charged bond between fathers and sons.
"Terrifying... Eloquent... A heart-rending drama of human yearning." —New York Times
In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all…
The story follows two magicians that have been trained since childhood to have a grand battle between them when they grow into adults. A magical, mysterious circus that appears in random places across the world is their battleground, equipped with whimsical exhibits and unexplainable acts. Morganstern’s beautifully lyrical writing is an adventure in itself, but the realm she creates is so fantastical and dreamy that it beckons the reader to imagine themselves along on the journey. This is not a story that is meant to be consumed quickly. It’s a dreamscape. One that begs to be sat with, savored, and imagined so vividly the magic seems to linger on your fingertips with every turn of the page.
Rediscover the million-copy bestselling fantasy read with a different kind of magic, now in a stunning anniversary edition to mark 10 years since it's paperback debut.
The circus arrives without warning. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Against the grey sky the towering tents are striped black and white. A sign hanging upon an iron gates reads:
Opens at Nightfall Closes at Dawn
Full of breath-taking amazements and open only at night, Le Cirque des Reves seems to cast a spell over all who wander its circular paths. But behind the glittering acrobats, fortune-tellers…
A classic story of adventure, good versus evil, and the power of unending love. It has a courageous pirate with a reputation for cruelty, a heartbroken soon-to-be princess, a conniving prince, a lovable giant, a determined Spaniard, and a whole cast of characters that demand to be loved (or hated, depending on their role). It is the perfect fairytale story– one filled with nostalgia and adventure with every page. A worthy match for its widely adored movie, The Princess Bride is a must-read for anyone desiring a page-turning escapade.
William Goldman’s beloved story of Buttercup, Westley, and their fellow adventurers.
This tale of true love, high adventure, pirates, princesses, giants, miracles, fencing, and a frightening assortment of wild beasts was unforgettably depicted in the 1987 film directed by Rob Reiner and starring Fred Savage, Robin Wright, and others. But, rich in character and satire, the novel boasts even more layers of ingenious storytelling. Set in 1941 and framed cleverly as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old tale set in the fabled country of Florin, home to “Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest…
No book list about adventure is truly complete without the story often called “the greatest ever told.” Setting the blueprint for heroes to come after, Odysseus travels through hardships in a humble attempt to get back home, battling mythical monsters on one page, and the vengeful gods on the next. Sure, it’s that one book you were forced to read in high school that you hated every second of, but you’re grown now. A seasoned adventurer! And any good hero is never going to enjoy something if they’re told to do it. Without the pressure of teachers and grades, step into this story and take a look around. It’s an intoxicating adventure with battles to overcome at every turn.
Homer's epic chronicle of the Greek hero Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War has inspired writers from Virgil to James Joyce. Odysseus survives storm and shipwreck, the cave of the Cyclops and the isle of Circe, the lure of the Sirens' song and a trip to the Underworld, only to find his most difficult challenge at home, where treacherous suitors seek to steal his kingdom and his loyal wife, Penelope. Favorite of the gods, Odysseus embodies the energy, intellect, and resourcefulness that were of highest value to the ancients and that remain ideals in out time.
Secrets lurk in the shadows of a kingdom where the queen has never shown her face. Raiona was once a democracy, but when an uprising forced the president out of power, a monarchy was formed.
An odd purple question mark with unknown meaning on the wrist of 17-year-old Mavis Caverly is proof she is different, but when a mysterious stranger appears promising her answers, Mavis finds there is much more to her kingdom’s history than she previously believed. She embarks on an adventure across Raiona, discovering the kingdom’s dark history and the crimes the Unseen Queen and the Lost President have committed. Through altercations with cowboys and pirates, sirens and thieves, Mavis realizes the role she plays in a decades-long government conspiracy.
On the run from her abusive husband, Kyra Smith hits the road. Destination unknown. With a dog she rescued in tow, she lands in the peaceful California mountain town of Gold Creek and is immediately befriended by an openhearted group of women who call themselves the Tattooed Ladies. They’re there for Kyra—and for each other.
The maternal Frannie is a tattoo artist struggling with a troubled daughter. Suzy is a self-described fashionista grandma bearing a painful estrangement from her son. Then there’s Jo, whose storybook marriage is shadowed by a grim medical diagnosis. And bookstore owner Marisol. She longs for…
A woman escaping a violent past finds new friendships, romance, and tenuous sanctuary in an emotionally gripping novel by New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge.
On the run from her abusive husband, Kyra Smith hits the road. Destination unknown. With a neglected dog she rescued in tow, she lands in the peaceful California town of Gold Creek and is immediately befriended by an openhearted group of women called the Tattooed Ladies Club. They're there for Kyra-and for each other.
The maternal Frannie is a tattoo artist struggling with a troubled daughter. Suzy is a self-described fashionista grandma bearing a…
