A call to arms against BRUNCH . . . and a how-to guide for fighting back, from the hosts of the hit podcast and public radio show The Dinner Party Download Society is under threat. The culprit? BRUNCH. Not merely a forum for overpriced eggs, brunch is a leisure-time-squandering hellscape, embodying all that is soul-killing and alienating about modern life. How to fight back? By throwing dinner parties -- the cornerstone of civilized society! Dinner parties -- where friends new and old share food, debate ideas, and boldly build hangovers together. If we revive the fading art of throwing dinner parties the world will be better off, and our country might heal its wounds of endless division, all without having to wait in a 9-hour line to eat toast. To that end, Brunch is Hell takes hesitant hosts through every phase of throwing a great dinner party, from guest list to subpoena. Loaded with wit, celebrity advice, and tongue-in-cheek humor -- plus sincere insights about how humans can be more generous to each other -- Brunch is Hell is a spirited guide to restoring civility, in the bestselling tradition of Adulting, Amy Sedaris' I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, and the Bible.

One of The Globe and Mail's Globe 100: Best Books of 2014 Every weekend, in cities around the world, bleary-eyed diners wait in line to be served overpriced, increasingly outré food by hungover waitstaff. For some, the ritual we call brunch is a beloved pastime; for others, a bedeviling waste of time. But what does its popularity say about shifting attitudes towards social status and leisure? In some ways, brunch andother forms of conspicuous consumption have blinded us to ever-more-precarious employment conditions. For award-winning writer and urbanist Shawn Micallef, brunch is a way to look more closely at the nature of work itself and a catalyst for solidarity among the so-called creative class. Drawing on theories from Thorstein Veblen to Richard Florida, Micallef traces his own journey from the rust belt to a cosmopolitan city where the evolving middle class he joined was obliviousto its own instability and insularity. The Trouble with Brunch is a provocative analysis of foodie obsession and status anxiety, but it's also a call to reset our class consciousness. The real trouble with brunch isn't so much bad service and outsized portions of bacon, it's that brunch could be so much more. 'At the crux of it, Micallef's issue with brunch is a lack of self-awareness, and his book is essentially a call to arms to consider the implications of one's actions, even for something as innocuous as meeting friends for eggs and mimosas.' - Bookslut Praise for Shawn Micallef: 'As Toronto grows into a more mature, more compelling city, a new group of non-academic, street-smart urbanists has emerged to appreciate it - with-it young writers, architects and men and women about town who love big cities and see things in Toronto that most of usmiss. Shawn Micallef is one of the sharpest of this sharp-eyed breed.' - Globe and Mail 'A smart and intimate guide to the city that makes you feel like an insider from start to finish.' - Douglas Coupland [on Stroll]

"From the first line of Just by Looking at Him, you'll know this story is so much more than boy meets boy. First, there's the humor. Elliot is a writer who spends his days navigating the back stabbing, the pressure, and the day to day snark of writing aggressively average television. In laugh out loud detail, we're immediately with him on his journey to try to get his lines onto the screen. But there's a deeper, and more poignant, story beating at the heart of this would be rom com. Instead of the usual boy meets boy, the person you really fall in love, the one you're rooting for until the end, is the protagonist himself. As a gay man with cerebral palsy, Elliot has always searched for the one, and he thought he found that person in Gus, his doting boyfriend. And yet, he can't seem to stop cheating. Elliot falls into a rabbit hole of sex, drinking, and addiction, and ultimately learns that the person he truly needs to learn to accept is himself. As incisive commentary on gay life today, a heart centered, laugh out loud exploration of self and a rare insight into life as a person with disabilities who refuses to be a victim, critics and readers alike will fall in love with this story"--

Meet Bliss Cavendar, a blue haired, indie-rock loving misfit stuck in the tiny town of Bodeen, Texas. Her pageant-addicted mother expects her to compete for the coveted Miss Blue Bonnet crown, but Bliss would rather feast on roaches than be subjected to such rhinestone tyranny. Bliss' escape? Take up Roller Derby. When she discovers a league in nearby Austin, Bliss embarks on an epic journey full of hilarious tattooed girls, delicious boys in bands, and a few not-so-awesome realities even the most bad-assed derby chick has to learn.

Scarlett O'Hara, Jezebel, Aphrodite and Venus, meet Moira Boyer. She has the exotic sensuality of Rita Hayworth, the blatant eroticism of Sharon Stone that sizzled in "Basic Instinct" and Marilyn Monroe's sex-kitten sexuality. Physically breathtaking, intellectually at a Mensa level, and financially a female Warren Buffett, Moira Boyer is the film industry's current Sex Goddess. It's biggest box office draw, and an Oscar winner, she attracts men like a feral cat in heat. Nicknamed HEAT, she joins a Hollywood studio rat pack engaged in an extensive plan to break away from repressive management. Sued for breaking their employment contracts in order to form a new production company, they consequently face bankruptcy....until....Moira's testimony sets the courtroom ablaze.

"Exceptional! JL Stiles has a way of drawing you in so that you won’t be able to put this book down. A definite must read!" - reader KT Joanna Barrett has lived two lives. The one before tragedy stole her husband, and the one after. IF you call 18-hour days, way too much alcohol and random hook-ups a life. When a routine night out goes horribly wrong, Jo is forced to take stock of her bleak reality. With the help of her best friend, Tim, and a budding new relationship with a work colleague, Jo’s life finally seems to be going right for once. That is, until the one person she hoped to never see again suddenly steps back into view. Long-buried truths are finally unearthed. Precarious relationships splinter while others mend. And Jo has the chance to find out which of her two lives is worth living. Will she take that chance, or will she let the truth continue to keep her from coming back alive?

Step into a world where love knows no boundaries, and hearts dare to take chances. In "HE TOOK CHANCES," a captivating love novel full of romance, acclaimed author Indrajeet Nayak weaves a tale that will leave you breathless and longing for more. For women and teens seeking a heart-stirring escape, this contemporary romance masterpiece immerses readers in a whirlwind of emotions, transcending age and gender to touch the deepest recesses of the heart. From the very first page, Nayak's exquisite storytelling enthralls both men and women, young and old, as they surrender to the powerful allure of love. With poetic prose and a keen eye for human connection, Nayak delivers a passionate narrative that explores the complexities of relationships. Within these pages, you'll find a stirring blend of eroticism, tenderness, and unbridled desire, creating a tantalizing reading experience unlike any other. "He Took Chances" is not just another love novel; it's a transformative journey that delves into the depths of vulnerability, capturing the essence of true love's intoxicating highs and devastating lows. Nayak masterfully crafts characters that leap off the page, their emotions resonating with readers of all backgrounds. Whether you're seeking a captivating story to share with your partner or a soul-stirring solo adventure, this romantic book is a must-read for couples, men, women, and anyone seeking a profound exploration of the human heart. As one of the foremost voices in contemporary women's fiction and a seasoned writer of romance collections and anthologies, Indrajeet Nayak delivers a timeless masterpiece that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Prepare to be swept away by the unforgettable journey of love, passion, and vulnerability as you embark on an emotional rollercoaster that only "HE TOOK CHANCES" can provide. Indulge in this exquisite love novel today, and let your heart be captivated by Indrajeet Nayak's lyrical prose. Discover why readers around the world have fallen in love with this enchanting tale—a book that redefines the boundaries of romance and reminds us all that sometimes, love is worth taking chances for.