Washington Square is a short novel by Henry James. Originally published in 1880 as a serial in Cornhill Magazine and Harper's New Monthly Magazine, it is a structurally simple tragicomedy that recounts the conflict between a dull but sweet daughter and her brilliant, unemotional father. The plot of the novel is based upon a true story told to James by his close friend, British actress Fanny Kemble. The book is often compared with Jane Austen's work...

A young girl's astonishing, poignant first look into the turbulent heart of things "I had in my care that summer four dogs, three cats, the Moran kids, Daisy, my eight-year-old cousin, and Flora, the toddler child of a local artist. There was also, for a while, a litter of wild rabbits, three of them, that had been left under our back steps..." Alice McDermott's haunting and enchanting new work of fiction is narrated by a woman who was born beautiful....

Mara Brennan is about to unravel. Three days after 28th birthday, her boyfriend dumps her, leaving her with nothing but a basement apartment, a futon, and a pile of unpaid bills. On top of that, her job, working as a receptionist at a cosmetic surgery clinic, is a nightmare, her boss is a tyrant, and her friends have gotten ahead of her in the game of life. She realizes it's time for an identity makeover and devises the OM List, a personal pathway...

On seeing her portrait, a servant girl modelling for an artist in 17th century Holland realizes she is ugly. But the portrait opens her eyes to the world of art, she becomes a painter and is transformed by her work so that when a prince charming appears she is no longer ugly.

Annie, younger sister of the princess who would be known as Sleeping Beauty, is immune to magic and stays awake when the rest of the castle falls into an enchanted sleep, then sets out to find a way to break the spell.

Every year at Mount Washington High School somebody posts a list of the prettiest and ugliest girls from each grade--this is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, and how they are affected by the list.

A dark comedy about greed, vanity, sex, immortality, life -- and death. Madeline and Helen, rivals for the affections of Ernest, are both desperate to restore their youthful beauty, believing it is the only way to attract him. But while the potion each one purchases from a mysterious woman has the power to keep them beautiful, they find there is a down side to being immortal.

When extremely good-looking King Duncan builds more and more tributes to his handsome face, neglecting kingdom projects and repairs, his loyal subjects find a mustachioed solution.

"When Princesses Mellie, Allie, and Libby begin to argue about which princess is the prettiest, they decide to hold a contest. But of course, the girls get side-tracked helping others on their way to the contest leaving Princess Mellie as the muddiest, Princess Allie as the yuckiest, and Princess Libby as the drippiest. But due to their kindness, the princesses win in the end"--