Angell’s fluid prose and native curiosity make him an amiable and compelling companion on the page. The book gathers together essays, letters, light verse, book reviews,Talk of the Town stories, farewells, haikus, profiles, Christmas greetings, and late thoughts on the costs of war. Whether it’s a Fourth of July in rural Maine, a beloved British author at work, Derek Jeter’s departure, the final game of the 2014 World Series, an all-dog opera, editorial exchanges with John Updike, or a letter to a son, what links the pieces is the author’s perceptions and humor, his utter absence of self-pity, and his appreciation of friends and colleagues — writers, ballplayers, editors, artists — encountered over the course of a full and generous life.

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. In the spirit of Mindy Kaling's bestseller Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? or Judd Apatow's Sick in the Head , a collection of humorous, autobiographical essays from Kunal Nayyar, best known as Raj on CBS's #1 hit comedy The Big Bang Theory . Of all the charming misfits on television, there's no doubt Raj from The Big Bang Theory- the sincere yet incurably geeky Indian astrophysicist-ranks among the misfittingest. Now, we meet the actor who is every bit as loveable as the character he plays on TV. In this revealing collection of essays written in his irreverent, hilarious, and self-deprecating voice, Kunal Nayyar traces his journey from a little boy in New Delhi who mistakes an awkward first kiss for a sacred commitment, gets nosebleeds chugging Coca-Cola to impress other students, and excels in the sport of badminton, to the confident, successful actor on the set of TV's most-watched sitcom since Friends . Going behind the scenes of The Big Bang Theory and into his personal experiences, Kunal introduces readers to the people who helped him grow, such as his James Bond-loving, mustachioed father . Kunal also walks us through his college years in Portland, where he takes his first sips of alcohol and learns to let loose with his French, 6'8"" gentle-giant roommate, works his first-ever job for the university's housekeeping department cleaning toilets for minimum wage, and begins a series of romantic exploits that go just about as well as they would for Raj. (That is, until he meets and marries a former Miss India in an elaborate seven-day event that we get to experience in a chapter titled “My Big Fat Indian Wedding."") Full of heart, but never taking itself too seriously, this witty collection of underdog tales follows a young man as he traverses two continents in search of a dream, along the way transcending culture and language (and many, many embarrassing incidents) to somehow miraculously land the role of a lifetime.

When her father loses his job and Ellen's family must move from their comfortable suburban house into her grandmother's urban home, Ellen worries about fitting into her new junior high school and making new friends, and wonders if her life will ever be the same again.When her father loses his job and Ellen's family must move from their comfortable suburban house into her grandmother's urban home, Ellen worries about fitting into her new junior high school and making new friends, and wonders if her life will ever be the same again

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A searing story of starvation and survival in North Korea, followed by a dramatic escape, rescue by activists and Christian missionaries, and success in the United States thanks to newfound faith and courage Inside the hidden and mysterious world of North Korea, Joseph Kim lived a young boy’s normal life until he was five. Then disaster struck: the first wave of the Great Famine, a long, terrible ordeal that killed millions, including his father, and sent others, like his mother and only sister, on desperate escape routes into China. Alone on the streets, Joseph learned to beg and steal. He had nothing but a street-hardened survival instinct. Finally, in desperation, he too crossed a frozen river to escape to China. There a kindly Christian woman took him in, kept him hidden from the authorities, and gave him hope. Soon, through an underground network of activists, he was spirited to the American consulate, and became one of just a handful of North Koreans to be brought to the U.S. as refugees. Joseph knew no English and had never been a good student. Yet the kindness of his foster family changed his life.  He turned a new leaf, became a dedicated student, mastered English, and made it to college, where he is now thriving thanks to his faith and inner strength. Under the Same Sky is an unforgettable story of suffering and redemption.

Eunsun Kim was born in North Korea, one of the most secretive and oppressive countries in the modern world. As a child Eunsun loved her country...despite her school field trips to public executions, daily self-criticism sessions, and the increasing gnaw of hunger as the country-wide famine escalated. By the time she was eleven years old, Eunsun's father and grandparents had died of starvation, and Eunsun too was in danger of starving. Finally, her mother decided to escape North Korea with Eunsun and her sister, not knowing that they were embarking on a journey that would take them nine long years to complete. Told with grace and courage, her memoir is a riveting expose of North Korea's totalitarian regime and, ultimately, a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.