Jack Vettriano Daytona Diner

Jack Vettriano Daytona DinerJack Vettriano Dancing CoupleJack Vettriano Dancer for Money
Lahiri's first story collection, Interpreter of Maladies, won the Pulitzer and earned her a devoted audience. It also set the bar sky-high for any stories that might follow. Somehow, with her second collection, It's a quirk of modern fiction that a lot of the people who read it work in offices, but very few of the people in it do. As Joshua Ferris's Then We Came to the End did last year, Personal Days takes a step toward correcting the imbalance. Set within the confines of a nameless, failing white-, it chronicles the company's increasingly intense, intricate office culture, which gets more and more ingrown and self-referential and radioactive with each layoff. "It's possible we can't stand each other," says the novel's first-person-plural narrator, "but at this point we're helpless Unaccustomed Earth, she clears it. Lahiri finely tuned, hypnotically even sentences about Bengali families finding their way in America — but she stretches out, literally, into longer, more complex narratives. The title story and the masterful "Hell-Heaven" establish themes of quietly splintering families and thwarted passion; from there the collection builds in intensity to the triptych "Hema and Kaushik," whose final installment brings together two star-crossed lovers, then cruelly tears them apart.

Sargent Two Women Asleep in a Punt under the Willows

Sargent Two Women Asleep in a Punt under the WillowsSargent Study of a Fig TreeSargent Portrait of Edouard and Marie-Loise PailleronSargent Mrs. Hugh Hammersley
individuals was almost perfect," Matsumoto said. "This suggests something genetically resident within us is the source of facial expressions of emotion."
Matsumoto found that sighted and blind individuals manage their expressions of emotion in the same way according to social context. For example, because of the social nature of the Olympic medal ceremonies, 85 percent of from birth could not have learned to control their emotions in this way through visual learning so there must be another mechanism. It could be that our emotions, and the systems to regulate them, are vestiges of our evolutionary ancestry. It's possible that in response to negative emotions, humans have developed a system that closes the mouth so that they are prevented from yelling, biting or throwing insults."silver medalists who lost their medal matches produced "social smiles" during the ceremony. Social smiles use only the mouth muscles whereas true smiles, known as Duchenne smiles, cause the eyes to twinkle and narrow and the cheeks to rise."Losers pushed their lower lip up as if to control the emotion on their face and many produced social smiles," Matsumoto said. "Individuals blind

Dawson A Yachting Competition

Dawson A Yachting CompetitionDawson Broad HorizonsMonsted The forest pathDawson The Glorious Lightning
neck.He had expected to suffer an attack the moment that he’d been spritzed in the face, but perhaps the drug that Moloch breath.Worse still: The feeble effort he made to sit upright instead caused him to slide farther down. In fact he seemed about to slip off the seat. [584] His legs buckled and twisted upon themselves, folding into the knee space in front of the dashboard, and his butt hung off the edge of the seat. From the waist to his neck, he was lying flat on the seat, his head tipped up against the back of it.He felt his airways narrowing.He wheezed, sucked, snorked for breath, drew in little, squeezed out less. That familiar hard-boiled egg settled in his windpipe, that stone, that blocking wad.He could not breathe on his back.He could not breathe. He could not breathe.Moloch stomped the brakes. The car fishtailed, then spun. administered had, as a side effect, delayed the asthmatic response. Now here it came, and with a vengeance.Fric began to wheeze. His chest tightened, and he couldn’t get enough breath.He didn’t have his inhaler.As bad, maybe worse: He remained semiparalyzed, unable to claw himself up from a slack-limbed slump into a full sitting position. He had to be more upright to use the muscles of his chest walls and of his neck to squeeze out every trapped

O'Keeffe Apple Family II C.1920

O'Keeffe Apple Family II C.1920O'Keeffe An Orchid 1941O'Keeffe A Sunflower from Maggie 1937Rothko Untitled Red Black White on Yellow 1955
planking wet with condensation, at the briny semen scent of the fertile sea, at the frosty rectangles, fluorescent in the mist, that are the had perceived no meaning in anything; now dead, he sees meaning in every detail of the physical world, and too much of it has a dark significance.One finger of the wharf leads past the restaurant windows, and at a prime table.He walks around the building to the front door and follows the maitre d’ through the busy restaurant to Typhon’s table.Typhon graciously rises to greet Dunny, offers a hand to be shaken, and says, “Dear boy, I’m sorry to have summoned you at such a critical moment on this night of all nights.”After he and Typhon settle into their chairs and after Dunny politely turns aside the maitre d’s solicitation of a drink order, he decides that disingenuousness will not play any better sits , beautifully dressed as always, regal in demeanor without appearing pretentious. Through the pane of glass, their eyes meet.For a moment, Typhon regards him somberly, even severely, as though with displeasure certain to have consequences that Dunny does not wish to consider. Then his plump face dimples, and his winning smile appears. He makes a gun of thumb and forefinger, pointing it at Dunny as if to say, Gotcha.By way of fog and glass and the candlelight on the table, Dunny could in a wink travel from the wharf to the chair opposite Typhon. With so many people in the restaurant, however, that unconventional entrance would be the essence of indiscretion

Jean Francois Millet Man with a hoe painting

Jean Francois Millet Man with a hoe paintingHerbert James Draper The Water Nymph paintingHerbert James Draper Pot Pourri painting
Hazard rode shotgun, making phone calls. His voice rose from a polite and almost romantic murmur to a demanding thunder, but most often settled into an easy folksiness, while relentlessly he used his status as homicide detective to coax-pinch-push-pull-wrench cooperation from a series of higher-education bureaucrats.Every and university in the greater Los Angeles area had closed for the last two or three weeks of the year. Something less of tracking down Dr. Gerald Fitzmartin, who had organized the three-day weekend conference on screen, Hazard became so infuriated with the runaround at which all academic types excelled that he paused in the chase before frustration drove him to smash his department-issued phone to pieces against his own forehead.“All these university cheese-eaters hate cops.”“Until they need you,” Ethan said.than a skeleton staff remained on duty to serve those students who had not gone Home At each institution that he phoned, he employed charm, appeals to [408] good citizenship, threats, and persistence to get from one know-nothing to another, but always eventually to a know-something who could further their investigation.Already they had learned that the drama professor—Dr. Jonathan Spetz-Mogg—had organized both of the weekend conferences on acting for which Rolf Reynerd had written checks. They had been granted an appointment with Spetz-Mogg at his Westwood, to which they were en route without benefit of emergency flashers or siren.In the process

Salvador Dali Figure at a Window painting

Salvador Dali Figure at a Window paintingGeorgia O'Keeffe From the Lake No. 1 paintingMark Rothko Orange and Yellow painting
she worked for him, too, and that he didn’t have to answer her questions. If he resorted to that argument, he would be in deep meide, as Mr. Hachette would say with glee. Mrs. McBee knew that she served in loco parentis, and while she was sound like a bigger lunatic than any of the uncountable entertainment-industry lunatics who, on visiting Palazzo Rospo, had astonished Mrs. McBee with their lunacy during the past six years.He didn’t want Mrs. McBee to be disappointed in him or to think that he was not quite power mad with that authority, she took it seriously.Whether Fric concocted a false explanation or tried to get away with telling only part of the truth, Mrs. McBee would see through his deception as clearly as he himself could see through a window, and she would intuitively know everything that he’d been up to at least since he’d awakened in the armchair. Twenty seconds later, with one of his ears pinched firmly between the thumb and forefinger of Mrs. McBee’s right hand, he would find himself standing before the potted palm in theas he tried to explain why he had attempted to assassinate the plant with a double volley of urine.Minutes thereafter, she would have succeeded in getting him to spill the entire story from Moloch to mirror man to the phone call from Hell. Then there would be no going back.Even Mrs. McBee, with her scary ability to see through any lie or evasion, would not recognize the truth in this case. His story was too outrageous to be believed. He would

Caravaggio The Crowning with Thorns painting

Caravaggio The Crowning with Thorns paintingCaravaggio Narcissus paintingCaravaggio Madonna di Loreto painting
Still descending through the darkness north of Nod, he heard the words “spinal injury.”Opening his eyes a minute or ten minutes later, he discovered the night aswarm with pulsing-revolving red and yellow lights, and blue, as if he were in an open-air discotheque, and he knew that he would never dance again, or walk.To the tuneless broken songs of police-radio ” and “easy, easy,” and when he looked again, he had blinked himself into the ambulance.He became aware that a needle already pierced his right arm, served by an IV tube and a dangling bag of plasma.For the first time, he heard his breathing—full of wheeze and rush and rattle—whereupon he knew that more than his legs had been crushed. He suspected that one or both of his lungs struggled against the confinement of a partially collapsed rib cage.crackle, flanked by paramedics, Ethan glided through the rain on a gurney toward an ambulance.[171] On the white van, in red letters trimmed in gold, under the bold word AMBULANCE, glowed the smaller words OUR LADY OF ANGELS HOSPITAL.Maybe they would give him a bed in Dunny’s old room.That prospect filled him with a choking dread.He closed his eyes for what seemed a blink, heard men warning one another “careful

Sung Kim Village Steps painting

Sung Kim Village Steps paintingSung Kim Village on the Water paintingSung Kim Terrace Arch II paintingSung Kim Terrace Arch I painting
Aware of those risks and many more, Fric nevertheless stayed on the line. This was by far the most interesting phone conversation he’d ever had.[102] Just in case this guy with no name happened to be the one from whom he might need to hide, Fric said, “Anyway, I’ve got bodyguards, and they carry submachine guns.”you again later.” His whisper subsided to a murmur that Fric had to strain to hear. “Meanwhile, you start looking for that deep and special hiding place. There’s not much time.”“Wait,” Fric said, but the line went dead.“That’s not true, Aelfric. Lying won’t get you anything but misery. There’s heavy security on the estate, but it won’t be good enough when the time comes, when the Beast in Yellow shows up.”“It is true,” Fric deceitfully insisted. “My bodyguards are former Delta Force commandos, and one of them was even Mr. Universe before that. They can for sure kick major ass.”The stranger didn’t respond.After a couple seconds, Fric said, “Hello? You there?”The man spoke in a whisper now. “Seems like I have a visitor, Fric. I’ll call

Alphonse Maria Mucha Fruit painting

Alphonse Maria Mucha Fruit paintingAlphonse Maria Mucha Flower paintingAlphonse Maria Mucha Flirt paintingAlphonse Maria Mucha Biscuits Lefevre Utile painting
could be taken in the large and comfortably furnished dayroom, where the staff not only ate but also did their household planning, , and strategized all arrangements for the elaborate parties often held when the Face was in residence. Chef or cook would also prepare a plate of sandwiches or any other requested treat that Ethan might want to take back to his quarters.Of course, he could prepare meals in his apartment kitchen if he preferred. Mrs. McBee kept his fridge and pantry stocked according to shopping lists he presented to her, at no expense to him.Except for Monday and Thursday, when one of the maids changed the bedclothes—Mr. Manheim’s linens were cycled daily when he was in residence—Ethan had to make his own bed each hard.Now, after shrugging into a soft leather jacket, Ethan stepped out of his apartment into the ground-floor hallway of the west wing. He left his door unlocked as he would have done if he’d owned the entire house.He took with him a file that he’d made on the black-box case, an umbrella, and a leather-bound copy of Lord Jim by He had finished reading the novel the previous evening and intended to return it to the library.[17] More than twelve feet wide, paved with limestone tiles featured through most of the main

Thomas Moran Venice, from near San Giorgio painting

Thomas Moran Venice, from near San Giorgio paintingThomas Moran Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice paintingJean Francois Millet Woman Baking Bread paintingJean Francois Millet The Walk to Work painting
fully light they started. Already the fog was thinning. They kept as close as they could to the western side, and they could see the dim shapes of the low cliffs rising ever higher, shadowy walls with their feet in the hurrying river. In the mid-morning the clouds drew down lower, and it began to rain heavily. They drew the skin-covers over their boats to prevent them opening could be seen.Frodo peering forward saw in the distance two great rocks approaching: like great pinnacles or pillars of stone they seemed. Tall and sheer and ominous they stood upon either side of the stream. A narrow gap appeared between them, and the River swept the boats towards it.`Behold the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings! ' cried Aragorn. `We shall pass them soon. Keep the boats in line, and as far apart as you can! Hold the middle of the stream! 'As Frodo was borne towards them the great pillars rose like towers to meet him. Giants they seemed from being flooded, and drifted on: little could be seen before them or about them through the grey falling curtains.The rain, however, did not last long. Slowly the sky above grew lighter, and then suddenly the clouds broke, and their draggled fringes trailed away northward up the River. The fogs and mists were gone. Before the travellers lay a wide ravine, with great rocky sides to which clung, upon shelves and in narrow crevices, a few thrawn trees. The channel grew narrower and the River swifter. Now they were speeding along with little hope of stopping or turning, whatever they might meet ahead. Over them was a lane of pale-blue sky, around them the dark overshadowed River, and before them black, shutting out the sun, the hills of Emyn Muil, in which no

Albert Bierstadt In the Mountains painting

Albert Bierstadt In the Mountains paintingJohannes Vermeer The Guitar Player painting
string, though it was a long shot for his small bow. He drew, but his hand fell, and the arrow slipped to the ground. He gave a cry of dismay and fear. Two great trolls appeared; they bore great slabs of stone, and flung them down to serve as gangways over the fire. But it was not the trolls that had filled the Elf with terror. The ranks of the orcs had opened, and they crowded away, as if they themselves were afraid. Something was coming up behind them. What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it.It came to the edge of the fire and the light faded as if a cloud had bent over it. Then with a rush it leaped across the fissure. The flames roared up to greet it, and wreathed about it; and a black smoke swirled in the air. Its streaming mane
Claude Monet Regatta At Argenteuil paintingClaude Monet Woman with a Parasol painting
seemed to be hundreds of orcs. They brandished spears and scimitars which shone red as blood in the firelight. Doom, doom rolled the drum-beats, growing louder and louder, doom, doom.Legolas turned and set an arrow to the kindled, and blazed behind it. In its right hand was a blade like a stabbing tongue of fire; in its left it held a whip of many thongs.'Ai! ai! ' wailed Legolas. 'A Balrog! A Balrog is come! 'Gimli stared with wide eyes. `Durin's Bane! ' he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered

Leonardo da Vinci paintings

Leonardo da Vinci paintingsMichael Austin paintings
Glóin rose and bowed, and Legolas continued. 'In the days of fair weather we led Gollum through the woods; and there was a the mountains, and were unused to the woods. When the battle was over, we found that Gollum was gone, and his guards were slain or taken. It then seemed plain to us that the attack had been made for his rescue, and that he knew of it beforehand. How that was contrived we cannot guess; but Gollum is cunning, and the spies of the Enemy are many. The dark things that were driven out in the year of the Dragon's fall have
Montague Dawson paintingsMaxfield Parrish paintings
high tree standing alone far from the others which he liked to climb. Often we let him mount up to the highest branches, until he felt the free wind; but we set a guard at the tree's foot. One day he refused to come down, and the guards had no mind to climb after him: he had learned the trick of clinging to boughs with his feet as well as with his hands; so they sat by the tree far into the night.'It was that very night of summer, yet moonless and starless, that Orcs came on us at unawares. We drove them off after some time; they were many and fierce, but they came from over returned in greater numbers, and Mirkwood is again an evil place, save where our realm is maintained.`We have failed to recapture Gollum. We came on his trail among those of many Orcs, and it plunged deep into the Forest, going south. But ere long it escaped our skill, and we dared not continue the hunt;

Stubbs Racehorses Belonging to the Duke of Richmond Exercising at Goodwood

Stubbs Racehorses Belonging to the Duke of Richmond Exercising at GoodwoodStubbs Mares by an Oak-TreeStubbs Mares and Foals in a Wooded LandscapeStubbs Hound and Bitch in a Landscape
Pippin subsided; but Sam was not daunted, and he still eyed Strider dubiously. 'How do we know you are the Strider that Gandalf speaks about?' he demanded. 'You never mentioned Gandalf, till this letter came out. You might be a play-acting spy, for all I can see, trying to get us to go with you. You might have done in the real silence. At last Frodo spoke with hesitation. 'I believed that you were a friend before the letter came,' he said, 'or at least I wished to. You have frightened me several times tonight, but never in the way that servants of the Enemy would, or so I imagine. I think one of his spies would - well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand.'Strider and took his clothes. What have you to say to that?''That you are a stout fellow,' answered Strider; 'but I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have it - NOW!'He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side. They did not dare to move. Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly.'But I am the real Strider, fortunately,' he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. 'I am Aragorn death I can save you, I will.'There was a long

Caillebotte Paris Street rainy weather

Caillebotte Paris Street rainy weatherCaillebotte Norman LandscapeCaillebotte Naked Woman Lying on a CouchCaillebotte Game of Bezique
beyond. Then they could make straight for the Ferry over country that was open, except for a few ditches and fences. Frodo reckoned they had eighteen miles to go in a straight line.He soon found that the thicket was closer and more tangled than it had appeared. There were no paths in the undergrowth, and they did not geton the edge high above them they saw against the sky a horse standing. Beside it stooped a black figure.They at once gave up any idea of going back. Frodo led the way, and plunged quickly into the thick bushes beside the stream. ‘Whew!’ he said to Pippin. ‘We were both right! The short cut has gone crooked already; but we got under cover only just in time. You’ve got sharp ears, Sam: can you hear anything coming?’ on very fast. When they had struggled to the bottom of the bank, they found a stream running down from the hills behind in a deeply dug bed with steep slippery sides overhung with brambles. Most inconveniently it cut across the line they had chosen. They could not jump over it, nor indeed get across it at all without getting wet, scratched, and muddy. They halted, wondering what to do. ‘First check!’ said Pippin, smiling grimly.Sam Gamgee looked back. Through an opening in the trees he caught a glimpse of the top of the green bank from which they had climbed down.‘Look!’ he said, clutching Frodo by the arm. They all looked, and