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Horror as Racism in H. P. Lovecraft: White Fragility in the Weird Tales
by Dr. or Prof. John L. SteadmanProviding a new perspective on Lovecraft's life and work, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft focuses on the overlap between the writer's personal beliefs and the racist images and narratives in his speculative fiction. Building on recent debates about Lovecraft and drawing on the concept of "white fragility," John Steadman argues that the writer's fiction reflects his feelings of resentment and anger towards non-white persons and was used to advocate for his racist, xenophobic political beliefs – that western civilization was in decline and slavery was justifiable among "superior" civilizations. In making these claims, Lovecraft's tales pit humans against extra-terrestrial aliens, developing a terrifying, futuristic vision of the Earth as a plantation planet. The familiar image of Lovecraft as a reclusive, creative genius and mentor to young writer-friends is dismantled through close readings of his fiction and nonfiction – including correspondence, essays, and poetry – and examination of his early biography. This image is replaced by that of a cruel, callous, and, at times, psychotic man, a violently vitriolic racist and white supremacist who hated most of the non-white races. While some will dismiss the author outright and others will read his fiction but ignore the racism, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft takes a middle ground: acknowledging Lovecraft's personal history and heinous intentions, it helps readers navigate the author's disturbing biography while also getting a better sense of the stories, which remain significant within American science fiction.
Horror as Racism in H. P. Lovecraft: White Fragility in the Weird Tales
by Dr. or Prof. John L. SteadmanProviding a new perspective on Lovecraft's life and work, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft focuses on the overlap between the writer's personal beliefs and the racist images and narratives in his speculative fiction. Building on recent debates about Lovecraft and drawing on the concept of "white fragility," John Steadman argues that the writer's fiction reflects his feelings of resentment and anger towards non-white persons and was used to advocate for his racist, xenophobic political beliefs – that western civilization was in decline and slavery was justifiable among "superior" civilizations. In making these claims, Lovecraft's tales pit humans against extra-terrestrial aliens, developing a terrifying, futuristic vision of the Earth as a plantation planet. The familiar image of Lovecraft as a reclusive, creative genius and mentor to young writer-friends is dismantled through close readings of his fiction and nonfiction – including correspondence, essays, and poetry – and examination of his early biography. This image is replaced by that of a cruel, callous, and, at times, psychotic man, a violently vitriolic racist and white supremacist who hated most of the non-white races. While some will dismiss the author outright and others will read his fiction but ignore the racism, Horror as Racism in H.P. Lovecraft takes a middle ground: acknowledging Lovecraft's personal history and heinous intentions, it helps readers navigate the author's disturbing biography while also getting a better sense of the stories, which remain significant within American science fiction.
Encyclopedia of Romance Fiction
by Editor Kristin RamsdellAs the first encyclopedia solely devoted to the popular romance fiction genre, this resource provides a wealth of information on all aspects of the subject.Romance fiction accounts for a large share of book sales each year, and contrary to popular belief, not all of its readers are women: roughly 16 percent are men. This enormously popular genre continues to captivate people reading for pleasure, and it also commands a growing amount of academic interest. Included are alphabetically arranged reference entries on significant authors along with works, themes, and other topics. The articles are written by scholars, librarians, and industry professionals with a deep knowledge of the genre and so provide a thorough understanding of the subject. An index provides easy access to information within the entries, and bibliographies at the end of each entry, a general bibliography, and a suggested romance reading list allow for further study of the genre.
Love Affairs: The Therapeutic Guide to Sound Thinking and Smart Moves after Infidelity (Sex, Love, and Psychology)
by Joel Block Ph.D.A psychologist specializing in couples therapy provides an honest and compassionate guide to dealing with a spouse's or partner's love affair, from the one-night stand to the grand amour.As a result of innovative technologies and a globalized world, temptation and opportunity often intersect, allowing infidelity to increasingly create problems between spouses, partners, and other couplings in which at least one person expects exclusive intimacy. In this timely work, noted couples therapist Joel Block examines the challenges of affairs, including types of affairs; their motivations and effects; and how to repair and improve a relationship, or part ways, after an affair. Questions addressed include: "What is the motivation?", "Is it a result of deep dissatisfaction? Or not a reflection of the relationship at all?", and "Can relationships be affair-proofed?" Providing vignettes from the author's therapy sessions to illustrate points, the book also explains how to respond to discovery; minimize disruption in the lives of children; and when separation or divorce is the chosen solution, understand new modes of "conscious de-coupling" that keep post-breakup life stable as well as satisfying. A lifeline for recovering from crisis, this text will interest general readers looking for advice to react to, cope with, or avoid infidelity, as well as students and professionals in the fields of psychology, counseling, and social work.
The Illusion of Intimacy: Problems in the World of Online Dating
by John C. BridgesThis book examines online dating from the "inside," using in-depth interviews with dating website members to reveal—and keenly analyze—what relationships and romance in the 21st century are really like.The members of the current generation of "digital guinea pigs" are true social pioneers as they embrace digital technology to create a new realm of mating, dating, and intimacy in America. Ironically, "digital dating" frequently results in an outcome that is exactly opposite to its participants' intended purposes. The Illusion of Intimacy: Problems in the World of Online Dating is more than a thorough investigation of the realities of modern relationships, many of which begin online—one in five, according to Match.com; the book introduces the reader to some of the natives and industry "users" who make up its clientele. Author John C. Bridges shows how they have adapted to technology to find new interactions, meet new partners, and share new experiences. The research focuses on the dating sites ranked in the top five by actual members of these sites who interviewed with the author to share their personal stories and experiences, all documented by saved emails and text messages.
Classic Horror: A Historical Exploration of Literature (Historical Explorations of Literature)
by Anne DeLongA valuable resource for readers exploring the classic horror genre, this book presents primary source documents alongside analysis in an examination of the social, political, and economic factors reflected in 19th century Gothic literature.The nineteenth century was a time of social, cultural, and economic change; revolutionary scientific developments; and enduring imaginative works. This book explores the classic horror genre of Gothic literature in its historical and social contexts. It contains chapters on four major works of classic horror, with each chapter providing a mix of background information, primary source historical documents, and analysis that will appeal as much to high school and college students as to lovers of literature and the Victorian era.Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is contextualized through documents pertaining to British imperialism, Antarctic Exploration, and the burgeoning environmentalist movement. Shelley's Frankenstein is explored through sections on galvanism, electricity, grave robbing, and the vitalist debate. Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is read through explanations of nineteenth-century drug use and addiction and early theories of psychology and criminology. Stoker's Dracula is studied with reference to such topics as mesmerism, clairvoyance, alienism, medical ethics, xenophobia, and Victorian pseudoscience.
The Helicopters Are Down
by Indira ParthasarathyHurtling towards a midlife crisis, Amirtham is down - but not out. Caught in a sorry vortex of self-denial and what-could-have-been, the discontented government official wants to do the impossible - be young again. Having decided that his marriage is sparkless and his spouse unremarkable, he decides to woo a much younger theatre actress who vaguely resembles his witty and opinionated ex. As Amirtham gives into self-aggrandizing visions - glamorizing a humdrum life coming apart at the seams - he flails and fails in the tangles of his own making. In this deeply insightful novel, both endearing and heartbreaking, urban Delhi of early seventies is brought alive by Tamil literary icon, Sahitya Akademi fellow and Padma Shri-awardee Indira Parthasarathy. Hilarious, reflective and wise, this moving tale expertly courses through unsettling remorse, directionless passion, and the fragile business of loving and being loved.
Dear Men: Masculinity and Modern Love in #MeToo India
by Prachi Gangwani'I really loved her but I broke up with her because my mother didn't think she would adjust in our family.' – Raul, engineer, 29~'I liked being angry. I wanted to hate the world, be angry, so I didn't have to be sad.' – Dhairya, photographer, 34~'I want a harem. But I want to be the only guy in a woman's life.' – Dushyant, lawyer, 27 In startling, often revelatory interviews Dear Men shows how Indian men across ages navigate romantic relationships in a country that is still teetering on the cusp of modern and traditional. Direct, often tongue-in-cheek, accessible and engaging, the book is an investigation of what sexual boundaries really mean to Indian men, how they deal with online dating, manage traditional gender roles, talk about their mental health, if they think romance is still relevant, what marriage means to them, and why they hurt the women they love. Dear Men hopes to start an honest and open dialogue with Indian men about subjects that are becoming more and more relevant as movements like #MeToo gain traction.
Score!
by Aarti V RamanBrighabujamba 'Bee' Vishwanathan hates her name, her current job at Krikket-365 and cricket itself. To keep her job, Bee has to score an exclusive with a member of the Indian team before the T20 World Cup final. When she falls on to the hotel balcony of broody assistant coach Arhan Kapoor while trying to spy on the team, Bee does not think her life could get worse.Arhan loves cricket with a passion that is only rivalled by his hatred of journalists. After the team is affected by the untimely death of their vice-captain, he has only two mandates: motivate the players to a win and keep them away from the media. A nosy reporter managing to full toss her way into the team is his worst nightmare.However, when the team's physiotherapist turns up dead and someone makes an attempt on Bee's life, she and Arhan have to join forces to investigate those out to sabotage India's chances at the Cup. Can two people on opposite sides of a pitch trust each other and bring down a cold-blooded killer? Or will the match end before the last ball is bowled?
Bathinda to Bangkok
by Vibha BatraIs it going to be Mahi Way, or the Highway for Mahi? Mahi's back in the pavilion, but, ji, her dreams got mixed with mud. Hopes got crushum-crushed. Heart became pieces-pieces. As if life isn't tatti enough, one after another new-new siyapas are starting. Mahi's hungry to grow Ludhiana to London, her party-planning company, to international height. Lavith, her international returned ex-love, is thirsty for her blood. Leave work-life balance, she's toh losing mental balance.Her BFF (Bechari Frustoo Friend) Dingy's to-be-in-laws are refusing first night in Bangkok. Her other BFF, Dumpy's refusing to go anywhere without his Combo Pack -- his Sweet Knife GF Simran and her paindu brother Raj. Her brother Niku's business problem is not saying bye-bye. And her stepmom Bhooto (short for Bhootni) is – hai-hai – don't ask. But the question bothering her the most is: Will her ex come back to her? Will it be Lav-ith or Leave-it for Mahi?
The Bitter Pill Social Club
by Rohan DahiyaYou know exactly who they are. The ones who walk right past club lines, who walk into rooms and make you swoon. You've felt their Gucci-anointed aura in a city paved with mildly good intentions and cocaine lines. It's a familiar cast: the centre of attention, the shameless flirt, the loudmouth, the narcissistic writer. It's a familiar setting: a city of smooth talkers, armchair activists, and the rich brats of Instagram wrapped up in cigarette smoke. A place to talk pop spirituality and purple prose in connoisseur-only jazz clubs. Now watch them without an audience. The Bitter Pill Social Club takes a look at the lives of the Kochhar family, who find themselves drifting apart in the city of gins and fake friends, wrapped in cigarette smoke. As one of their own gears up to tie the knot, three siblings come home to the neurotic parents who raised them. Meanwhile the parents face the family patriarch's constant judgment. Divorce, disappointment, and disasters ensue as the entitled Kochhar brood dodges old lovers and marriage proposals.
Austenistan
by Laaleen SukheraHeiress Kamila Mughal is humiliated when her brother's best friend snubs her to marry a social climbing nobody from Islamabad. Roya discovers her fiancé has been cheating on her and ends up on a blind date on her wedding day. Beautiful young widow Begum Saira Qadir has mourned her husband, but is she finally ready to start following her own desires? Inspired by Jane Austen and set in contemporary Pakistan, Austenistan is a collection of seven stories; romantic, uplifting, witty, and heartbreaking by turn, which pay homage to the world's favourite author in their own uniquely local way.
That Thing We Call a Heart
by Sheba KarimShabnam Qureshi is a funny, imaginative Pakistani-American teen attending a tony private school in suburban New Jersey. When her feisty best friend, Farah, starts wearing the headscarf without even consulting her, it begins to unravel their friendship. After hooking up with the most racist boy in school and telling a huge lie about a tragedy that happened to her family during the Partition of India in 1947, Shabnam is ready for high school to end. She faces a summer of boredom and regret, but she has a plan: Get through the summer. Get to college. Don't look back. Begin anew.Everything changes when she meets Jamie, who scores her a job at his aunt's pie shack, and meets her there every afternoon. Shabnam begins to see Jamie and herself like the rose and the nightingale of classic Urdu poetry, which, according to her father, is the ultimate language of desire. Jamie finds Shabnam fascinating-her curls, her culture, her awkwardness. Shabnam finds herself falling in love, but Farah finds Jamie worrying. With Farah's help, Shabnam uncovers the truth about Jamie, about herself, and what really happened during Partition. As she rebuilds her friendship with Farah and grows closer to her parents, Shabnam learns powerful lessons about the importance of love, in all of its forms.Featuring complex, Muslim-American characters who defy conventional stereotypes and set against a backdrop of Radiohead's music and the evocative metaphors of Urdu poetry, THAT THING WE CALL A HEART is an honest, moving story of a young woman's explorations of first love, sexuality, desire, self-worth, her relationship with her parents, the value of friendship, and what it means to be true.
Maidless in Mumbai
by Payal KapadiaI am on top of things. I have a seriously stuck baby inside me, and a queue of people between my legs. But I am on top of things.Career-driven reporter Anu Narain has a plan for everything till motherhood comes along. The baby poops/cries/pisses/ feeds round the clock. Anu loses her mind/ the plot/ the maid. And cabin fever strikes when her mother-in-law and her mother come over to help …How does Anu become a working mom when her husband is happy playing the shirking dad? And when her house is a railway station where every maid is a passing train? Will Anu use wile and guile to make the maids stay and The Moms leave? Or will she succumb to that strange Indian malaise called maidomania?Hysterically funny, unapologetically honest, and charming all the way, this is the diary of a maidless Mumbai mom who dreams of only one thing-the perfect maid to live happily forever with.
Half Boyfriend
by Judy Balan Kishore ManoharIn Half Boyfriend a feudal rich boy from a village courts a gorgeous city brat who has a weakness for lost causes. They go through a series of pointless events and unbelievable coincidences in a dead-end plot that has to end with the chuavinist sleeping with the girl.
Blueprint for Love
by Chatura RaoHaunted by memories of her dead sister and childhood home, Reva meets her sister's then-boyfriend, Suveer, every year for a day in a friendship that seems to offer each of them a way to come to terms with the past. Suveer is reporting an election story of 'dishousing' on a bungalow belonging to a Muslim businessman in a Hindu-dominated area of Gandhinagar. Unable to remain objective when the mob turns on Mahnoor, a young Muslim woman, he is beaten up and hospitalised. Without a second thought Reva leaves her husband and goes to him. Suveer and Reva seek shelter with Mahnoor and her husband Zahyan, who find the life they'd painstakingly constructed is slowly unravelling.This gripping story asks the question: where is home? Reva and Suveer, Zahyan and Mahnoor, be it in circumstances of love or loss, ever seek a path to return by.
Mornings After
by Tharun James JimaniOn the morning India woke up to the news of the gruesome assault on Nirbhaya, Sonya lay awake coming to terms with a nightmare of her own: if you place your safety in the hands of another, who is to blame for its consequences?Incited by the media post mortem of Nirbhaya that followed, Sonya gives up the security of corporate life and starts a feminist webzine instead.When a Bollywood matinee idol –'Bhai' to his devotees, and simply 'The Torso' to the media – expresses interest in promoting the launch of Sonya's publication in exchange for a little whitewashing of his latest misogynist transgression, she is faced with the age-old question of just how far can one go till the end stops justifying the means? Thomas, her lover of a mere couple of months, suddenly burdened with contributing to food and lodging, and Sonya, unable to apply her political stand to their abusive relationship, negotiate the fluidity and chaos of contemporary urban relationships in ways both familiar and unique!
Half of What I Say
by Anil Menon Himanjali SankarConflicted over his sinister duties with the Lokshakti, Vyas writes a confessional love-letter to his wife. But how did the letter end up with the scholar-politician, Durga Dhasal? And when the Lokshakti murders Dhasal, Vyas has to find the incriminating letter before it's too late. The trail leads Vyas to various people, including: the passionate scientist torn between exit and loyalty; the businessman who collects ruins; the beguiling actress who was once Shahzadi Jahanara; the eunuch poet fond of Jewish jokes. It leads him to a powerful, subversive new myth. The lost letter leads Vyas to himself.
The Way We Were: A hilarious and swoon-worthy second-chance, workplace romance
by Prajwal Hegde"Bitter rivals.Reluctant colleagues. Tormented ex-lovers. Myra Rai is living her best life. At twenty-eight, she is a prominent journalist at the precipice of dreamy success and her dating life is the envy of the town. After all, jealous heads stir to probe her almost engagement to Ravi Rao, the gentleman heir to a roaring political legacy! Myra is well on her course. Until comes knocking the broad-shouldered, chiselled-face ghost from her past... Andrew Brown is a headstrong political activist, unexpectedly back in the city after a winning stint in the US. Set to take over as the executive editor of Morning Herald, he is determined to revisit his past and reconnect with that one feisty journalist at work who hates his guts, hates that he is back, and hates that he never called... Both Myra and Andrew have lost a lot over the years, including each other. But in the fierce race to best one another while pretending not to seethe in the hellfire of jealousy and suppressed passion, can they keep their barbs (and hands) to themselves? Right from the centre of a smouldering passion-fest, Prajwal Hegde tugs compellingly at the heartstrings and delivers a stormy rom-com that is all love (AND a whole lot of lust)! "
Vow of Parvati
by Aditi BanerjeeA love story for the ages…Drawn to beauty, sweetness, and the softer things in life, the young devi Sati is about to choose her vahana, the vehicle that would be the symbol of her identity. But before she can, her world is shaken by the arrival of Rudra, the snake-wearing intoxicated Adi Yogi, who haunts cremation grounds and consorts with wild ganas. When they meet, sparks fly. He is her opposite in every way but all she feels is a strong attraction even as their personalities clash. When family pressure compels Sati to choose her husband, she has to decide whether she can accept the darker, fiercer aspects of herself that Rudra brings out. However, a cataclysmic tragedy forever alters Devaloka, tearing the lovers apart. From the ashes of the aftermath the young devi emerges once more-this time as Parvati. Given a new chance at life, at determining her fate, Parvati makes a fateful vow to win the heart of Rudra. Can she succeed once again?
The Crunch Factor
by Andaleeb WajidLove comes in all tastes and spices! Twenty-six-year-old Aliya loves almost everything to do with food – eating it, styling it, photographing it. But while her career as a food photographer is on track, her personal life is entirely derailed. Determined to move out of her parents’ house, she agrees to marry Kamaal, the hot owner of the trendy new restaurant in town. But why does she feel like she’s waded into a bowl of bland khichri? Where’s the papad, dammit? Where’s the crunch factor? Then, on the day of her engagement, she finds out that the celebrated chef at Kamaal’s restaurant is none other than Sameer, an old crush from her younger days. Aliya cannot believe that, even a decade later, he’s still as hot as jalapeno poppers and as charming as cheesecake, and that she’s as attracted to him as she was all those years ago. What is Aliya to do now? Should she go ahead with the wedding and settle for a Milky Bar-like relationship with Kamaal, or should she choose rocky road pie and explore her possibilities with Sameer?
Fashionably Yours
by Swati Sharma“Maya Kapoor swaps the snowy mountains for the glittering ocean.” Maya Kapoor arrived in Mumbai with a glamorous dream, quite literally. Maya wants to be a serious fashion writer for the high-end fashion magazine, Glamorous, but luck is not in her favor.
Daddy
by Tuhin SinhaWith gender dynamics changing the world over, parenting is a key area where this change is most perceptible. Modern dads today have no inhibitions in changing their baby’s diapers, spending sleepless nights catering to their newborn or looking after the baby while the mother is at work.
Kingdom Come
by Aarti V RamanKrivi lyer is an embittered former spy and bomb defusal expert with only one regret. That he couldn't catch The Woodpecker, a dangerous, mentally unstable bomber who ended his partner's family.
Total Siyapaa
by Neha Sharma"Sum of Two Wholes TOTAL SIYAPAA" Aasha Singh, fiery and confident, can't wait to get her hands dirty with hard news, and uncover scandals and controversies. A Punjabi desi in London, from India. Aman Ali, smart-aleck and suave, a promising musician, has left the security of a career in finance to follow his passion in music.