Conquered Bride

A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding.Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job—or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter Debbie is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom. Then, Gail’s ex-husband Max arrives unannounced on her doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay and without even a suit.But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband-to-be. It will not only throw the wedding into question but also stir up Gail and Max’s past.Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life,Three Days in Juneis a triumph, and gives us the perennially bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer at the height of her powers.

With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen--from murder to a second chance at love--in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding. A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it's more like a nightmare. Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fianc?s wedding is its own enigma, but she'll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she'll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate's biggest romantic regr

The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is the stunning third book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent and the first book of the highly anticipated Shadowborn Duet.The Songbird and the Heart of Stone is the third book of the New York Times bestselling Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent, a heart-wrenching, epic fantasy romance of love and treachery between mortals and gods.In the descent to the underworld, a bride of the sun must choose between the light of her redemption . . . or a dark love that defies the gods themselves.Mische lost everything when she was forcibly Turned into a vampire – her home, her humanity and, most devastating of all, the love of the sun god to whom she had devoted her life. Now, sentenced to death for murdering the vampire prince who Turned her, redemption feels impossible.When Mische is saved by Asar, the bastard prince of the House of Shadow with a brutal past, she is forced into a mission worse than execution: a journey to the underwor

The iconic Bridge Kingdom series begins: a sweeping, sizzling fantasy romance filled with political intrigue and passionate love, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood. "Heart-pounding romance and intense action wrapped in a spellbinding world. I was hooked from the first page!"--Elise Kova, USA Today bestselling author of A Deal with the Elf King A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she'll be the one to bring him to his knees. The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara's homeland. So when she's sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses. And the defenses of its king. Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begin

A Cinderella-inspired, slow-burn historical romance with a paranormal twist set in Taisho-era Japan!A browbeaten and mistreated daughter is cast out of her home and sent to audition as a bridal candidate for the heir to one of the most powerful families in the land…For failing to inherit the boon of unusual power that is the Saimori birthright and bringing shame to the family name, mistreated Miyo is cast out to become another's problem.Sent to the Kudo clan—itself preternaturally powerful—as a potential bride for its heir, Kiyoka, Miyo is surprised to experience kindness for the first time in her thus far sad life.Though the rumors make him out to be cold and haughty, Kiyoka Kudo quickly warms up to the Saimoris' eldest daughter. Intrigued by the girl who stands worlds apart from the spoiled, social-climbing women who usually vie for his hand, Kiyoka soon comes to regard Miyo with affection.Just as Miyo believes she may have found happiness at last, her jealous half sister, Kaya, kidn

#1 New York Times Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us deeper into the Cosmere Universe with a standalone adventure that will appeal to fans of The Princess Bride.The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?******Praise for Brandon Sanderson"Epic in every sense." -The Guardian on The Way of Kings"Brandon Sanderson's reputation is finally as big as his novels." -The New York Times on Words of Radiance"If you're a fan of fantasy and haven't read the Mistborn trilo

This book is Steve Martin’s cinematic legacy―a graphic memoir of his movies, packed with stories from the sets of his classic films, drawn by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, the team who brought you A Wealth of Pigeons.Steve opens the book explaining why he left stand-up comedy for the big screen: “I wondered if I could become a comedian in movies. ‘If I could do movies,’ I thought, ‘I could perform a scene again and again until I got it right.’”Filled with anecdotes from his time on set of his beloved films―from Father of the Bride to Roxanne, The Jerk to Three Amigos, and many more, this collection of cartoon strips brings you directly into Steve Martin’s world. Paul McCartney, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, Goldie Hawn, Chevy Chase, Carl Reiner, and Mike Nichols - just a few of the book’s cast appearing in charming tales of antics, exploits, and moments of inspiration. Steve details his forty years in the movie biz, as well as his stand-up comedy, banjo playing, writing, and cartoo

Jo Watson is the bestselling author of Burning Moon, Always a Bride and Finding You. Big Boned is her first YA romance, tackling the themes of body positivity, family, acceptance and self-love, the book will delight her fans of all agesOn the heels of her parents' messy divorce, 17-year-old Lori Palmer is forced to move to a new town and start a new highschool, away from her best friends and the art community she loves so much. Immediately Lori feels like a fish out of water as her new peers seem to prize “beach bodies” above all else. Frustrations continue to rise at home as well as her relationship with her mom continues to deteriorate, The only thing providing Lori with happiness is her younger brother Zac and an unexpected friendship with popular jock Jake, who seems to be hanging around more and more. As Lori begins to adjust into and explore her new world, she also begins exploring her own inner feelings. As she opens herself up, new sources of inspiration begin to bloom, leading

A darkly enchanting fantasy debut about a morally gray witch, a cursed prince, and a prophecy that ignites their fate-twisted destinies—perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and Serpent & Dove.Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it. But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus's love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus. Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutth

A magical tale of imagination, adventure, and the power of storytelling, perfect for fans of The Golden Compass and A Wrinkle in Time.Kay’s father has gone missing on Christmas Eve! And when Kay and her sister Ell go to his office, everyone he works with claims never to have heard of him. So later that evening, when Kay wakes up to find two mysterious strangers outside her bedroom window, talking about her father and looking for the last remnants of his existence, she demands to know what’s happened to her dad.The two strangers, Flip and Will, are wraiths, on a mission to bring Kay and Ell’s father to their world—the world of woven stories and grand imagination that their father has spent his career studying. Only things in that world have gone very wrong, and the Bride of Bithynia, the only being who can set things right, is nowhere to be found. Can Kay and Ell find their father and join Flip and Will in a centuries-old battle to save the world?Debut author Andrew Zurcher has created

Is there anything spookier than a silent feline, eyes glinting, stalking you in the night...IN YOUR OWN HOME Master of horror Junji Ito turns his twisted eye on his own life in this comedic graphic memoir about becoming a cat owner, now reissued in a deluxe hardcover featuring an exclusive interivew with Ito and a NEW cover illustration by the author that GLOWS IN THE DARK The perfect gift for the slightly-twisted cat lover in your life. Reigning king of horror manga Junji Ito presents a series of hissterical tales chronicling his real-life trials and tribulations of becoming a cat owner. Junji Ito, as J-kun, has recently built a new house and has invited his financ e, A-ko, to live with him. Little did he know...his blushing bride-to-be has some unexpected company in tow--Yon, a ghastly-looking family cat, and Mu, an adorable Norwegian forest cat. Despite being a dog person, J-kun finds himself purrsuaded by their odd cuteness and thus begins his comedic struggle to gain the affection

「倫敦最時髦、最富原創性的烹飪學校」的主廚為了尋找古老食譜，她展開一場讓味蕾覺醒的華麗冒險！伊朗廚房美食日記關於旅行、味覺與愛情的情感記憶「這是突破國界的愛情故事，在全球化世界裡的一場探險。愛情足以嘲笑任何嚴厲控制的界線。」─ 泰晤士報（The Times）「《我是你的過境新娘》以美麗書寫為我們極少踏入的世界開啟一扇窗：錯綜複雜的現代伊朗。廣闊的市容與美味街頭小吃栩栩如生，然最生動的卻是對當地居民

The three novels collected in this second volume in the Library of America Ross?Macdonald edition represent for many readers the summit of American crime writing.?They remain thrilling for their searing psychological truth-telling, daring flights of narrative invention, and their keenly?observed picture of the manners and morals of a particular time and place (Southern California in the early 1960s).?Each reflects Macdonald’s enduring concern with the hidden crimes and agonizing dysfunctions that haunt families from?one generation to the next. In The Zebra-Striped Hearse, a father’s attempt to protect his daughter from “the complete?and utter personal disaster” of marriage to a troubled drifter sends private detective Lew Archer on a perplexing and increasingly?bloody trail that leads him from Mexico to Lake Tahoe and finally into the maze of a tragically splintered?identity. In The Chill, the search for a young bride gone missing uncovers a succession of seemingly unrelated crimes com

Their marriage has just become official, but In廥 has no intention of making it last forever. The manhwa adaptation of CHACHA KIM'S webnovel is now available in English print for the first time. Wedding bells are ringing, and In廥 Valeztena and C嫫cel Escalante are finally married. In廥 is a shockingly radiant bride, and the nobles who once scorned her now see her in a different light--including C嫫cel, who feels unsettled by all the attention on his dazzling new wife. But on the inside, In廥 remains determined to ultimately unravel this marriage and gain the freedom she could never obtain in her previous lives. The newlyweds begin their life together in Calztela, where C嫫cel is on military duty. The quaint coastal city may seem like a perfect honeymoon destination, but it also holds haunting memories from In廥's prior life. As she works to untangle herself from the past and keep her meticulous plans for the future in motion, In廥 finds that C嫫cel might make things more difficult than she expe

At once darkly tense, boldly feminist, and stunningly original, Damsel is the twisty, new YA fairy tale from National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold.*A 2019 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book*The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: When the king dies, his son the prince must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured by the dragon or what horrors she faced in its lair. She knows only this handsome young man, the story he tells of her rescue, and her destiny of sitting on a throne beside him. It’s all like a dream, like something from a fairy tale.As Ama follows Emory to the kingdom of Harding, however, she discovers that not all is as it seems. There is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows, and the greatest threats may not b

「完美的婚禮，就從漂亮的喜帖開始」 想想看，全世界12億人口，有多少人有其幸運能收到你的邀請呢？ 如果LV的經典包限量全球300個，那麼你的婚禮邀請卡也許更珍貴！ THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, AND TRYING TO WORK HARD FOR EVERY BRIDE & GROOM... 讓每一張婚卡都是限量，讓每一張婚卡都能典藏...... 一生中的大事 量身訂作的專屬邀請函 ＊隨書附贈素材光碟＊ 本書特色 如何把棒棒糖包得很tiffany 為什麼老外婚禮喜歡送客人jelly bean 婚宴小點心的創意穿衣術 Key To Love！鑰匙喜帖 即使是大紅色 也不該只有一種玩法 白色婚卡的美麗與趣味 來玩中古世紀的蠟封遊戲 藏不住的古典美 letterpress活字印刷

Lori是海灣高中新來的學生，在這裡所有人崇尚完美的身材，使得她覺得自己格格不入而打算默默度過高三，但在偶然之下她認識了校園風雲人物Jake，也闖進的他充滿驚奇的生活。Jo Watson is the bestselling author of Burning Moon, Always a Bride and Finding You. Big Boned is her first YA romance, tackling the themes of body positivity, family, acceptance and self-love, the book will delight her fans of all ages.Can she be herself in a one-size-fits-all world?Lori Palmer is the new girl at Bay Water High, where students prize glossy hair, beach bodies, and school spirit above all else. She misses her old school—where her talent as an artist carried more weight than she does—and longs for her old family life, before her parents got divorced and her mom reinvented herself.So Lori decides that the only way to survive the rest of the year is to blend into the background, but her plans go awry when she discovers that the most popular (and hottest) guy at Bay Water High, Jake, is a volunteer at her brother’s school. When her brother befriends Jake’s sister, Lori is suddenly thrust int

改編至Netflix電影「我的成年禮誠摯不邀你」青春、歡樂、輕快的搞笑劇情孩子登大人必看的青少年小說史黛西與莉蒂亞想要為自己辦一場隆重又夢幻的猶太教成年禮，不過因為校園出現了一位人見人愛的風雲人物安迪，讓她們的友情因為他而吵得不可開交，在校園與同儕間也鬧出許多讓人噴飯的糗事...Stacy Friedman is getting ready for one of the most important events of her young life - her bat mitzvah. All she wants is the perfect dress to wear, her friends by her side, and her biggest crush ever, Andy Goldfarb, to dance with her (and maybe even make out with her on the dance floor). But Stacy's well-laid plans quickly start to fall apart... Her stressed-out mother forces her to buy a hideous sequined dress that makes her look like the bride of Frankenstein. Her mitzvahs are not going well at all. And then the worst thing in the entire world happens causing Stacy to utter the words that will wreak complete havoc on her social life: You are SO not invited to my bat mitzvah!

《公主學院》10週年紀念版★ 紐伯瑞榮譽獎 ★ 《紐約時報》暢銷書米莉住在山上的小村莊，過著簡單的生活。直到一天，國王的祭司預言未來的王妃將來自此地，所有少女必須進入皇家學院，學習如何成為公主。學院裡競爭激烈，嚴格的女教師、女孩間的爭鬥，讓米莉內心動搖。贏得選擇或許能實現夢想，卻也意味著離開摯愛的家園。Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this Newbery Honor winning, New York Times bestselling book—now with a gorgeous new cover!Miri lives on a mountain where, for generations, her ancestors have lived a simple life. Then word comes that the king's priests have divined her village the home of the future princess. In a year's time, the prince will choose his bride from among the village girls.The king's ministers set up an academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to become a princess. Soon Miri finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires. Winning the contest could give her everything she ever wanted—but it would mean leaving her home and family behind.Packaged with a fresh cover, this timelessly charming, award-winning story from

在本書中，古老的妖精王國以交換護符維繫和平：鹿王的鹿角碎片、鴞王的羽毛、銀鱗女王的鱗片。然而鱞王野心漸盛，以他人魔法維生，並不斷尋找新娘。當姊妹 Ilsette 與 Lyla 被召入宮廷，Lyla 成為鱞王的目標。為救姊姊，Ilsette 踏上尋找羽毛的旅程，來到雙月與赤星交映的國度，試圖竊取改變權力平衡的關鍵。Bex Hogan 以濃烈而細緻的筆觸，構築危險又迷人的妖精世界。本書為《Nettle》同宇宙作品，可獨立閱讀，靈感取自威爾斯傳說，融合黑暗氣息與節制情感。獲《Kirkus Reviews》讚譽為引人入勝、節奏明快的民間奇幻。這是一則關於姊妹情誼、故事力量與代價抉擇的青少年小說。A dark, captivating YA tale of deception and survival, set in the same faery world as Nettle. Long ago, kings and queens of the faery realms exchanged talismans with one another to maintain harmony in their world. The Stag King gave up a shard of antler, the Owl King a feather, and the Minnow Queen a shimmering, silver scale. But the Owl King has grown restless, and his kingdom has become dangerous as he feeds off the magic of others. Always he hunts for a new bride to sustain him. When devoted sisters Ilsette and Lyla are summoned to court, the Owl King's eye soon falls on the beautiful Lyla. Determined to save her sister from a terrible fate, Ilsette sets out on a quest to find the prized fea

★ 全球熱銷《天官賜福》官方彩色漫畫，第2集震撼登場★ BILIBILI破70億點閱神作，首度英文精裝出版★ 宿命、信仰與千年愛戀交織——最虐心也最浪漫的東方奇幻在天界對「鬼新娘玄姬」事件的調查告一段落後，三度飛升的神明謝憐，踏上尋找八百年前那場瘟疫中消失的「繃帶少年」。然而線索早已斷裂，他只能回到更現實的困境——一位沒有信徒、沒有廟宇的神，該如何存在？就在此時，他的命運悄然改變。傳說中的「四大災厄」之一，似乎正將目光投向他。為了重建信仰，謝憐下凡人間親手建廟，卻遇見一名紅衣少年——神祕、從容，對眾神與鬼界了若指掌，甚至知道謝憐所有過去。那雙帶笑的眼睛背後，隱藏著橫跨八百年的執念與守候……當神與鬼再次相遇，命運的輪盤開始轉動。這一次，誰才是真正的救贖？Four tales and four calamities. The official manhua (webcomic) adaptation of the New York Times bestselling danmei novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Featuring stunning art by STARember, the webcomic produced by BILIBILI COMICS is now available in English print for the first time.As the heavenly court wraps up its investigation of Xuan Ji, the Ghost Bride, Xie Lian starts a search for the bandaged boy bearing the scars of the plague that destroyed his kingdom eight hundred years ago. But with a trail gone cold, he's forced to turn his attention to more pressing matters: He's a god without a temple or worshipers, and he seems to have caught the attention of an infamous

**《從前有個提姆》——平民少年的荒唐騎士夢** 這次，全新封面設計！紐約時報暢銷作家 **Stuart Gibbs** 以幽默筆觸，打造爆笑又驚險的 **《從前有個提姆》** 系列。 提姆只是個平凡的農家少年，但他夢想成為騎士，擺脫平庸的命運。當鄰國公主被邪惡的 **Stinx** 擄走，王子 **Ruprecht** 招募騎士出征，這是提姆一生難得的機會！儘管他不會騎馬，手上最厲害的武器是水桶，他還是毅然踏上征途，希望能實現騎士夢。 這是一場結合 **奇幻冒險、幽默對白與騎士傳說** 的搞笑旅程，適合所有熱愛爆笑冒險的讀者！ **專業推薦** **「喜愛《The Princess Bride 公主新娘》與《史瑞克》風格的讀者會愛上這本書！」** ——《紐約時報書評》 **「輕鬆有趣，顛覆傳統騎士故事！」** ——《Kirkus》 **「幽默十足，充滿奇妙插圖，是孩子們的完美讀物。」** ——《學校圖書館期刊》 適合喜愛《間諜學校》系列與幽默奇幻冒險故事的讀者，**快來加入提姆的荒唐騎士之旅！**Now with a reimagined look! The first four books in the New York Times bestselling, highly illustrated, and laugh-out-loud funny Once Upon a Tim series by Spy School author Stuart Gibbs are now available together in a paperback boxed set! Once upon a time there was a peasant named Tim. Yes, you read that right. This is the story of a peasant. But Tim dreams of being much more than a lowly farmer. Even if that means taking treacherous journeys filled with menacing beasts, dastardly mazes, dea

**《從前有個提姆》——平民少年的荒唐騎士夢** 這次，全新封面設計！紐約時報暢銷作家 **Stuart Gibbs** 以幽默筆觸，打造爆笑又驚險的 **《從前有個提姆》** 系列首部曲。 提姆只是個平凡的農家少年，但他夢想成為騎士，擺脫平庸的命運。當鄰國公主被邪惡的 **Stinx** 擄走，王子 **Ruprecht** 招募騎士出征，這是提姆一生難得的機會！儘管他不會騎馬，手上最厲害的武器是水桶，他還是毅然踏上征途，希望能實現騎士夢。 這是一場結合 **奇幻冒險、幽默對白與騎士傳說** 的搞笑旅程，適合所有熱愛爆笑冒險的讀者！ **專業推薦** **「喜愛《The Princess Bride 公主新娘》與《史瑞克》風格的讀者會愛上這本書！」** ——《紐約時報書評》 **「輕鬆有趣，顛覆傳統騎士故事！」** ——《Kirkus》 **「幽默十足，充滿奇妙插圖，是孩子們的完美讀物。」** ——《學校圖書館期刊》 適合喜愛《間諜學校》系列與幽默奇幻冒險故事的讀者，**快來加入提姆的荒唐騎士之旅！**Now with a reimagined look! Join a peasant boy who wants to be a knight in the laugh-out-loud funny, highly illustrated first book of the New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Tim chapter book series from Spy School author Stuart Gibbs. Tim is just a peasant, but he dreams big. He wants more out of life than to grow up to be a woodsman like his father. Unfortunately, the only route to success in the kingdom of Wyld is to be born a prince. Still, Tim is determined. He is brave and clever

T'were all one That I should love a bright particular star, And think to wed it, he is so above me. 我愛上一顆閃耀的明星， 竟然還想著跟星星結婚，他太高不可攀了。 《終成眷屬》(Act I, Scene I) If I must die, I will encounter darkness as a bride, And hug it in mine arms. 若我即將赴死， 我會將黑暗當作新娘， 擁它入懷。 《一報還一報》(Act III, Scene I) 看莎翁戲劇中句句對白，娓娓道出人生智慧， 一覽芸芸眾生的浮世繪與人性的萬花筒， 探討人類生命的課題，以心感受文學，品味莎劇之美！ 本書為《悅讀莎士比亞故事》第八冊，內容介紹莎士比亞的兩齣問題劇： 《終成眷屬》名醫之女海倫娜愛慕年輕的公爵已久，藉著幫法王治癒不治之症的機會，獲得賜婚。但年輕的公爵持才傲物，因不服這段婚姻而出走。遠走他鄉後，他愛上了寡婦年輕美麗的女兒。藉著寡婦母女的相助，海倫娜如何「二度」智取丈夫，贏回婚姻呢？ 《一報還一報》公爵假藉出遠門微服出巡，命令安哲羅代為行使職權。誰知平常一向道貌岸然的安哲羅，竟知法犯法，以女方胞弟的性命作要脅，強迫修女伊莎貝拉將初夜獻給他。安哲羅認為自己不軌的惡行絕對不會被揭發，誰知道仁慈的公爵已悄悄地將一切看在眼裡……

★本書榮獲1992年西班牙加泰隆尼亞國際插畫雙年展大獎★朗朗上口的生動民間故事×處處埋藏玄機的精緻細膩圖繪，讓歷久彌新的經典繪本，啟動孩子的觀察力與想像力，增進中英雙語閱讀素養！ 一月一，年初一。一月二，年初二。年初三，早上床，今夜老鼠娶新娘。 大小老鼠來幫忙，抬花轎，搬嫁妝，新郎新娘早拜堂。一拜堂，二拜堂， 三拜堂來入洞房。 這是一則流傳在臺灣的民間故事。老鼠村長的女兒要拋繡球選新郎，不料，一隻黑貓衝進來攪亂了局面。為了女兒的幸福，老鼠村長決定找一個比貓還強、全世界最強的女婿。左思右想，他覺得太陽是全世界最強的，於是跑去找太陽。可是，烏雲遮住了太陽，風吹散了烏雲，牆擋住了風……，到底誰才是老鼠村長最理想的女婿呢？ 故事中的老鼠村就位在人類家園的牆角下，繪者劉宗慧在一開始的三幅畫，就巧妙運用微觀與巨觀的對比，透過鏡頭的連續推近，從人類的視野慢慢壓低到老鼠的視野，讓老鼠的國度與人類的世界構成了有趣的畫面。全書充滿豐富細節的圖像，不僅有許多地方讓人莞爾一笑，也發展出文本之外的另一種敘事角度。 The wise old head of a small mouse village has a big problem. It is time for his beautiful young daughter to get married. But the old mouse wants to find her the most powerful husband in the world, to protect her from the vicious cat that is terrorizing his village. Setting off on a long journey, the old mouse leader intends to ask the Sun to marry his daughter. But he soon finds the Cloud is stronger. He then asks the Cloud, but to his surprise sees that the Wind is even greater. The Wind

★美國總統國家與社會貢獻獎金獎得主★ 韓秀　傾情鉅獻 從一畫成名驚天下，到窮愁潦倒無人問 他是時代的孤勇者，更是西方藝術史的先行者 林布蘭（Rembrandt, 1606-1669）生於荷蘭萊登，以色彩鮮明的版畫與精湛的銅版蝕刻技術聞名於世，為巴洛克時期最具代表性的藝術家之一。早期善於以「明暗對照法」繪製栩栩如生的肖像，例如《杜爾普教授的解剖課》，他也因此畫一舉成為當時阿姆斯特丹最富有的人之一。 但好景不長，因為受妻兒接連過世的打擊，1640年之後，林布蘭的畫筆不再濃墨重彩，他的畫布變得灰暗，人物形象追求自然、更加忠於原貌──但這樣的轉變卻也讓他從此跌落畫壇。 荷蘭的風帆正在黃金時代的浪潮中駛向全世界，林布蘭的人生卻陷入了暗無星月的夜晚。因為不符合審美潮流，幾乎沒有人再肯委託他作畫，財務狀況每下愈況；到了人生的終章，林布蘭甚至必須割愛珍貴的異國收藏、不斷遷居，過世時幾乎可說是身無分文、窮愁潦倒…… ═════ 林布蘭畫布下的故事 ═════ ♦《夜巡》（The Night Watch） ──世界三大油畫之一，為何當年會被裁剪、焚毀、謾罵百年？ ♦《猶太新娘》（The Jewish Bride） ──讓梵谷為之瘋狂的詩意之作，訴說林布蘭一生最重要的女人 ♦《杜爾普教授的解剖課》（The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp） ──杜爾普教授是誰？一窺十七世紀荷蘭的醫學片段 ♦《克勞迪‧基維里斯密謀起義》（The Conspiracy of the Batavians under Claudius Civilis） ──只餘下草圖的偉大畫作，究竟是得罪了何人？ ♦《雅各與天使角鬥》（Jacob Wrestling with the Ange） ──無比經典的聖經故事，也是林布蘭一生心志的寫照…… 「我的身心為之一震，彷彿有一塊巧奪天工的色彩撲面而來。」 「當沉溺於心中的夢想時，他失去了一切，但同時，他也得到了一切。」 「終其一生他都生活在一個虛幻的世界中，這個世界有著無限的美麗和完滿，以至於世人只能聳聳肩，帶著惡意與嫉妒的嗤笑，不予理睬