Showing results for "The Tale of Tales" in Literature & Fiction

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Toby Jones, and Vincent Cassel: a rollicking, bawdy, fantastical cycle of 50 fairy tales told by 10 storytellers over 5 days Before the Brothers Grimm, before Charles Perrault, before Hans Christian Andersen, there was...

Japanese culture has fascinated the West ever since the country’s doors opened up in the 1800s. In many ways, Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all around the world to see for themselves how unique this nation remains. Another way of exploring this enigmatic culture is through its literature. The English language succeeds surprisingly well in revealing the Japanese sense of life.

Ruth discovers a Hello Kitty lunchbox washed up on the shore of her beach home. Within it lies a diary that expresses the hopes and dreams of a young girl. She suspects it might have arrived on a drift of debris from the 2011 tsunami. With every turn of the page, she is sucked deeper into an enchanting mystery. In a small cafe in Tokyo, 16-year-old Nao Yasutani is navigating the challenges thrown up by modern life.

Dive into the captivating world of Ainu folk-tales, where nothing is off-limits and the tales are as raw as they are enlightening. Originating from the enigmatic Ainu people of Japan, who have called Hokkaido home for centuries, these stories explore the full spectrum of human experience—from creation and love to conflict and survival. Their unapologetic honesty and ribald humor might have shocked the scholarly collector Basil Hall Chamberlain, but they offer a refreshing and provocative perspective for modern readers. With the resurgence of Ainu activism advocating for indigenous rights and...

Ladybird presents Ladybird Tales, a bright, richly adventurous audio story-telling experience. Re-imagining classic fairy tales in a magical audiobook collection. Perfect for entertaining the little ones aged 5 and up. Featuring immersive sound design and beautifully composed music to whisk the...

Hunter has spent the last two years running in place. Trying to get ahead of the bills. Trying to provide for her sister, Piper, and her nephews. Trying to finish her nursing education. Trying to keep Piper out of her criminal husband's claws. Big, bad Jed Wolfe is a con artist, a manipulator, and he's currently doing 10 years for counterfeiting. Now is Hunter's best chance to convince Piper that he's bad news and that they can survive without him. Except the mortgage is overdue again, there's an eviction notice stapled to the front door, and Hunter can see it in Piper's eyes.

After Lor makes the biggest mistake of her life, she finds herself on the run from the Aurora King and decides it's time to end this, once and for all. When a new enemy emerges to claim her freedom, the entire fate of Ouranos comes to rest on her shoulders. As the land continues to rebel, Lor must admit she is the key to saving the continent, whether she likes it or not. To fight for Nadir, she must lie, steal, and do whatever it takes to hunt down the remaining arks. Growing more and more desperate, she worries her actions are turning her into something she doesn't recognize.

Brought to you by Penguin. The novel that set the stage for his modern classic, The Satanic Verses, Shame is Salman Rushdie's phantasmagoric epic Omar Khayyam Shakil had three mothers who shared everything. They shared the symptoms of pregnancy, they shared the son that they all claim to have...

Still reeling from her last case, Detective Isobel "Bel" Emerson finds comfort in both her dog and her newfound friendships. But when she and her new partner, Detective Gold, are called to the site of a bear attack, they discover something far more horrifying: the body of a young woman posed inside a cabin where the furniture is all too big. And to make matters worse, the cabin is located on Eamon Stone's property.

It's a well known fact that a newborn princess will often be subject to a curse, especially if her royal parents neglect to invite an important magical relative to the christening. But never has there been a curse as charming (and hilarious) as that which befalls the Light Princess. Deprived of gravity, she can't take anything, or anyone, seriously. Even worse, she's apt to blow away on the first stiff breeze!

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden, read by Kathleen Gati. For a young woman in medieval Russia, the choices are stark: marriage or a life in a convent. Vasya will choose a third way: magic... The court of the Grand Prince of Moscow is plagued...

The Ramayana is thousands of years old, yet it is filled with life lessons that benefit us even today. It teaches courage and fortitude to handle problems that are the inevitable result of birth. Reading it instils values like leadership, forbearance, loyalty, respect, equality, forgiveness...

Brought to you by Penguin. Step into the unsettling world of Shirley Jackson this autumn with a collection of her finest, darkest short stories, revealing the queen of American gothic at her mesmerising best. There's something nasty in suburbia. In these deliciously dark tales, the daily commute...

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Tibetan culture with this collection of enchanting folk tales. Curated by the author during his time in Tibet, these stories capture the essence of the regions heritage, showcasing its unique traditions and values while steering clear of external influences. Narrated by Kyle Stadelhofer, this compilation invites you to explore a world steeped in mythology and wisdom.

A practical witch must sabotage her beloved son's ascension to the throne in order to keep the kingdom from ruin, in this delightful cozy fantasy from the author of The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry. Once upon a time, a somewhat wicked witch named Gretsella lived in a cozy little cottage...

This adventure story has everything you could want: a handsome good guy, a pretty heroine, some bad guys, sword fighting, revenge, romance, and of course a happy ending, along with "rodents of unusual size." Join Westley (the plucky farm boy), Buttercup (the beautiful young maiden), Inigo Montoya (the driven, embittered swordsman), Prince Humperdinck (the scheming villain), and many other strange and unusual characters in this swashbuckling tale of good-natured silliness. Read by Rob Reiner, who directed the motion picture based on this fairy tale adventure.

The acclaimed artist Brom brilliantly displays his multiple extraordinary talents in The Child Thief—a spellbinding re-imagining of the beloved Peter Pan story that carries readers through the perilous mist separating our world from the realm of Faerie. As Gregory Maguire did with his New York...

The marriageable young ladies of London are dying mysteriously, and Abigail Wilder intends to discover why. Abigail's father, the Lord Sorcier of England, believes that a dark lord of faerie is involved—but while Abigail is willing to match her magic against Lord Longshadow, neither her father nor high society believe that she is capable of doing so. Thankfully, Abigail is not the only one investigating the terrible events in London. 

African-American folklore was Zora Neale Hurston's first love. Collected in the late 1920's Every Tongue Got to Confess, from the celebrated author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, is published here for the first time, beautifully performed by Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Hilarious, bittersweet...

Ladybird presents First Favourite Tales Audio, a fabulous collection of classic stories for toddlers, brought to life through the magic of audio. Produced with enchanting sound effects and lively music that will delight children, and introduce them to the world's most famous stories. This...