I dreamed about a little boy on a farm. It had apple trees, berries, and dozens of chickens of every color. The little boy carried his slingshot as he walked to school every day and chased rabbits with his dog in the woods. He had a pet goose that followed him wherever he went. His grandpa told him funny stories and called him "Eddie." Everyone gathered on Sundays for chicken dinners and listened to the radio talk about the Great War. It was a beautiful dream, and then I woke up and realized it wasn't a dream. I was that little boy. I am Eddie
An account of the author's life growing up on a dirt farm in Texas during the Great Depression, providing details of the ordinary life of rural African-American families during one of the most difficult periods in the country's history.
In this latest entry in Jacqueline Winspear’s acclaimed, bestselling mystery series—“less whodunits than why-dunits, more P.D. James than Agatha Christie” (USA Today)—Maisie Dobbs takes on her most personal case yet, a twisting investigation into the brutal killing of a street peddler that will take her from the working-class neighborhoods of her childhood into London’s highest circles of power. Perfect for fans of A Lesson in Secrets, The Mapping of Love and Death, or other Maisie Dobbs mysteries—and an ideal place for new readers to enter the series—Elegy for Eddie is an incomparable work of intrigue and ingenuity, full of intimate descriptions and beautifully painted scenes from between the World Wars, from one of the most highly acclaimed masters of mystery, Jacqueline Winspear.
The captivating story of how The Sheik captured the imagination of a generation, conquered the wrestling business, and lost it all in a blaze of flame and glory He was the most vicious, bloodthirsty, reviled villain in the history of the ring. During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, he drew record crowds everywhere he went and left a trail of burned and bloody opponents in his wake. He was The Sheik: the mysterious and terrifying madman from Syria whose wanton destruction and mayhem are the stuff of wrestling legend. But what those legions of fans screaming for his head never knew was that The Sheik was really Eddie Farhat. From Lansing, Michigan, and the son of Arab immigrants, Farhat served his country proudly in World War II and was fulfilling the American dream through hard work and tireless dedication to his craft. And when he wasn’t screaming unintelligibly and attacking his enemies with sharp objects, he was busy being the owner and operator of World Wide Sports, one of the most successful wrestling companies in North America. This is Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik.
The legendary creator of iconic television programs All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, Good Times, The Jeffersons, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Norman Lear remade our television culture, while leading a life of unparalleled political, civic, and social involvement. Sharing the wealth of Lear's ninety years, this is a memoir as touching and remarkable as the life he has led.
A little boy and his sister find themselves the wards of strangers in a cavernous children's home. Their mother assures them that their stay will be but a few months. Nearly six years later what they thought was to be a "stay" ends with their placement in a foster home. While this sounds like a chapter written by Charles Dickens in one of his darker moods, it isn't. Looking back after a half century, that "little boy," D.W. Rozelle, remembers his years at "the Home" as the best years of his tumultuous boyhood. Over 25 drawings by distinguished artist C.A. Grooms lend Rozelle's flashbacks a startling visual impact.
Profiling World War II veterans who became famous Hollywood personalities, this book presents biographical chapters on celebrities like Audie Murphy, "America's number one soldier"; Clark Gable, the "King of Hollywood"; Jimmy Stewart, combat pilot; Gene Autry, the "singing cowboy," who flew the infamous Hump; the amorous Mickey Rooney; Jackie Coogan, "the Kid" who crashed gliders in the jungle; James Arness, who acquired his Gunsmoke limp in the mountains of Italy; Tony Bennett, who discovered his voice during the Battle of the Bulge; and Lee Marvin, a Marine NCO who invaded 29 islands. Profiles of these and 21 others include little-known stories and details.
Eddie Ayres has a lifetime of musical experience - from learning the viola as a child in England and playing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic for many years, to learning the cello in his thirties and landing in Australia to present an extremely successful ABC Classic FM morning radio show. But all of this time Eddie was Emma Ayres. In 2014 Emma was spiralling into a deep depression, driven by anguish about her gender. She quit the radio, travelled, and decided on a surprising path to salvation - teaching music in a war zone. Emma applied for a position at Dr Sarmast's renowned Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul, teaching cello to orphans and street kids. In Danger Music, Eddie takes us through the bombs and chaos of Kabul, into the lives of the Afghan children who are transported by Bach, Abba, Beethoven and their own exhilarating Afghan music. Alongside these epic experiences, Emma determines to take the final steps to secure her own peace; she becomes the man always there inside - Eddie.
Life Lessons through Music Shortlisted for The Age Non-fiction Book of the Year; People's Choice, Queensland Books of the Year; Booksellers' Choice Non-fiction Book of the Year. How can we pause long enough to repair ourselves? How can we make space and time in our lives to know ourselves? One way is through music - learning music, listening to music, being open to music. Because music consoles and restores us. Through music, whether we are listening or playing, we know ourselves more intimately, more honestly, and more clearly with every note. And with every note, music offers us a hand to the beyond. Through music, we can say what we didn't even know we felt. This book is an ode to music, and a celebration of humanity's greatest creation. It is not a call to arms, but a call to instruments. In music, Ed Ayres finds answers to the big questions life throws at us. Using personal anecdotes - including those relating to his transition from Emma to Ed - and observations from teaching and learning music, Ed finds hope in our desire to become whole, with some simple music lessons along the way. PRAISE 'Whole Notes may appear to be about music, but really, it's simply about how to be kind and how to listen without judgement. Which is the best definition of love, no?' Jessie Tu, Sydney Morning Herald 'A truly beguiling account' Geraldine Doogue 'An almost divine presence' Rick Morton 'This is a gorgeous read. It is entertaining and educating in equal measure, and will leave its readers inspired' Celia Cobb, The Strad 'Don't miss this book - it is an ode to music, by a truly inspirational teacher' Inge Southcott, Loud Mouth, Music Trust e-zine 'Ayres communicates with joy, and clarity, inviting us to walk the journey of life with openness to others' Bishop Ian Palmer, The Melbourne Anglican 'With his collection of essayistic reflections on the beauty of music and what the process of learning it can teach us about life, Ayres has gifted his reader with something truly generous and utterly joyful' Stella Charls, Readings
Sharing a family life in the 1930s near the legendary Palisades Amusement Park, a family of dreamers explores ambitions and cultural boundaries that are challenged by the realities of the Great Depression, multiple wars, and the park's eventual closing in 1971.
