Falling in with a distracted Egyptologist after being kicked out of Yale, fourteen-year-old Judd Breslau is coerced by a reckless young woman whose misadventures eventually lead to his death sentence and incarceration in a southern Iraqi jail.

The hilarious #1 New York Times bestseller: Erma Bombeck’s take on marriage and family life is “fun from cover to cover” (Hartford Courant). Ever since she was a child, Er ma Bombeck has been an expert worrier, and married life has only honed that skill. She gets anxious about running out of ball bearings; about snakes sneaking in through the pipes; about making meaningful conversation on New Year’s Eve. Married life, she realizes, is an unpredictable saga even when you know exactly how loud your husband snores every night—and she wouldn’t have it any other way. In this crisp collection of essays, Bombeck shows off the irresistible style that made her one of America’s favorite humorists for more than three decades. When she sharpens her wit, no family member is sacred and no self-help fad is safe. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erma Bombeck including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.

Brings fun, laughter and life to some of the best examples of the complex and delightful English language.

FROM THE AUTHOR SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE (1996) AND THE WHITBREAD PRIZE (2003) 'The Mackay vision . . . as rich in history and wonder as a plain Victorian terrace house' GUARDIAN 'A national treasure . . . She has achieved that rarest of things for a writer' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'A dark romp but told with great panache and empathy . . . it works-exceedingly well' KIRKUS REVIEWS In A Bowl of Cherries, Shena Mackay tells the story of twin brothers whose lives are inexorably intertwined: Rex, a self-absorbed and successful writer, and Stanley, a minor poet who works as a dishwasher Rex lives on the family estate being the older of the twins by one minute with his unhappy wife, Daphne, who writes children's books. Their overweight daughter, Daisy, lives nearby, and as a result of a guilty secret of her own, has married an overbearing, misogynist, and skinflint husband, Julian. Rex's illegitimate son, Seamus, fourteen, discovers Daisy quite by accident and their relationship blossoms despite the many flawed characters that surround them. He carries a family secret that proves to be devastating, but which ultimately releases his half-sister Daisy from her torments.

A cherry tree growing from the top of the wicked landlord's head is the beginning of his misfortunes and a better life for the poor villagers.

Three hilarious books in one from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author on marriage, motherhood, and the absurdities of suburban life. If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? is Erma Bombeck’s timelessly witty look at the hidden side of married life. Motherhood captures one of the toughest jobs on earth with humor and heart. The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank is Bombeck’s take on the unforgiving frontier of American suburbia.

A Bowl of Cherries is a vivid, personal account of Canada’s early-twentieth-century history, spanning from the late 1800s, when Jules Legal’s grandparents built a homestead in the harsh scrublands of Southeastern Manitoba, to the author’s own upbringing during the Great Depression, the war years, and beyond. Set against the backdrop of an industrializing, modernizing nation, Jules shares his family’s story, describing with striking detail and emotional resonance the challenges his parents face as they struggle to raise their family through times of economic upheaval. The bulk of the anecdotes take place between 1937 and 1953, as Jules follows the ever-winding—often hazardous—river of life. From the suburbs of St. Catharines to the backwaters of rural Manitoba, Jules describes the joys of boyhood friendships, and how easily best buddies can lead each other astray. He is also exposed to the religious politics of the time, when the segregation between Catholics and Protestants in the school system leads to dramatic conflicts. Jules navigates his way through the challenges of puberty and ongoing relocations, as his family moves yet again in order to stay afloat in a still-struggling economy. While Jules strives to make his mark wherever his parents take him, he forever maintains his curiosity and enthusiasm for life. Throughout it all, Jules is constantly reminded—by his family, by himself, and by the titular song—that life is just “a bowl of cherries”: an experience to be embraced, not taken too seriously, and most importantly, to be enjoyed.