From the bestselling author of Richard and Judy Book Club pick Dear Thing, and Where Love Lies, a heartbreaking and life-affirming story about facing up to your past and finding out what - and who - you really want... Alice Woodstock has her life under control. She's successful and she's happy - as long as she continues to ignore the hurt from her past. But when said past walks back into her life in the shape of Leo - the man she married too young, ran away to Paris with and who ultimately broke her heart - Alice is desperate for an escape route. She finds the perfect thing - a new job as a tour guide in a Regency stately home. But as she immerses herself in acting out the stories of the house, Alice begins to see parallels with her own life, forcing her to confront her feelings about what she wants and, finally, live in the real world.
Marcelo Sandoval, a 17-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.
The charismatic god-king Sukarno has brought Indonesia to the edge of chaos - to an abortive revolution that will leave half a million dead. For the Western correspondents here, this gathering apocalypse is their story and their drug, while the sufferings of the Indonesian people are scarcely real: a shadow play.Working at the eye of the storm are television correspondent Guy Hamilton and his eccentric dwarf cameraman Billy Kwan. In Kwan's secret fantasy life, both Sukarno and Hamilton are heroes. But his heroes betray him, and Billy is driven to desperate action. As the Indonesian shadow play erupts into terrible reality, a complex personal tragedy of love, obsession and betrayal comes to its climax.
“[A] fanciful, endearing account of his experiences tackling classic works of fiction. . . . There is plenty of hilarity in [this] intimate literary memoir.” —Publishers Weekly Nearing his fortieth birthday, author and critic Andy Miller realized he’s not nearly as well read as he’d like to be. A devout book lover who somehow fell out of the habit of reading, he began to ponder the power of books to change an individual life—including his own—and to the define the sort of person he would like to be. Beginning with a copy of Bulgakov’s Master and Margarita, he embarks on a literary odyssey of mindful reading and wry introspection. From Middlemarch to Anna Karenina to A Confederacy of Dunces, these are books Miller felt he should read; books he’d always wanted to read; books he’d previously started but hadn’t finished; and books he’d lied about having read to impress people. Combining memoir and literary criticism, The Year of Reading Dangerously is Miller’s heartfelt, humorous examination of what it means to be a reader. Passionately believing that books deserve to be read, enjoyed, and debated in the real world, Miller documents his reading experiences and how they resonated in his daily life and ultimately his very sense of self. The result is a witty and insightful journey of discovery and soul-searching that celebrates the abiding miracle of the power of reading. “An affecting tale of the rediscovery of great books . . . [by] a friendly, funny Brit.” —Boston Globe “Funny and engaging.” —Kirkus Reviews “Amiable, circumstantial, amusing, charming. . . . [Miller’s] style owes something . . . to Joe Brainard and David Foster Wallace.” —The Times (London)
Welcome to the adventures and misadventures from a quarter century of hang gliding and travel. Huck yourself off cliffs, soar into the Wild Blue, and land where no human has landed before, all from the comfort and safety of your easy chair. Visit exotic lands and foreign skies, experience the thrill of foot-launched human flight and never even risk your neck. Come along with a wild cast of characters, who fly like their lives depend upon it. Realize mankind's most ancient dream, FLY WITH THE BIRDS!
In 1973, Richard Bangs founded Sobek Expeditions, the original and now the largest adventure travel company in the world, with over a million clients guided since its beginning. But this is not just a story of an unusual company, one that profoundly transformed the way we travel and experience the world. It presents true stories, both perilous and awe-inspiring, from the full array of adventure travel: trekking, climbing, sailing, diving, adventure cruising, kayaking, back-country skiing, mountaineering, biking, cultural immersions, canyoneering, and more. Sobek pioneered scores of adventures, from trekking in the Himalayas, to cruising the Galapagos and Antarctica, to first descents of some eighty rivers around the world. The author personally led thirty-five first river descents, capsizing on six continents (a unique, albeit dubious, distinction), and organized and led the first trips into North Korea, Libya, Yemen, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, New Guinea, Iran, and even China back in 1978. Sobek clients have included Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mick Jagger, Barry Diller, and Daryl Hannah. It is the shadow company behind National Geographic Adventures, New York Times Active Journeys, and Smithsonian Expeditions. This book traces fifty years of adventure travel and how it has evolved through times of war and peace, terrorism, the rise of the internet, the pandemic, and the first virtual expeditions.
A book of humorous short stories about the life of the author from childhood to present, and other stories of interest to the author that he hopes will interest the reader as well.
What are characteristics and traits of "Father's Eyes" that every human being and world citizen should strive to understand, demonstrate, elicit, exhibit, and share with this generation and every future generation, regardless of whether they are an actual parent (mother or father) of children? What are the admirable, eternal, and universal common features and traits of those who possess and responsibly advocate for "Father's Eyes" life behavior, protection and safety of self and others, and zenith life positive performance? What are common traits and characteristics of outstanding fathers in this universe? How to plan and successfully realize unparalleled and zenith life accomplishments without losing sight of what is important in life? What keen insights may be derived from reading true stories written by mature explorers and survivors who embarked on expeditions that required new discoveries and learning every day, to navigate treacherous storms throughout their adventurous journey through a tumultuous, tempestuous world, whose only guiding light each day and night was Father's Eyes who allowed continuation of life expeditions during night and other darkest periods and conditions of their unending life journey? The quintessential importance of discovering enlightened and wise mentors, faithful friends, siblings, neighbors, and community members who are motivated and superb role models with high aspirations and altruistic life perspectives, mentors whose goal is to live their life on earth in a fantastic manner. Satan worshippers, atheists, agnostics, and "world citizens" of every religion, culture, society, and country in this universe and all universes may all benefit from--and what's more, prosper and maximize their accomplishments and "endeavors success stories"--by studying, understanding, and then employing in real life the attitudes, perspectives, definitions, principles and concept or gestalt of "Father" and "Father's Eyes" as described and defined in this fascinating and life-changing novel. Strategies, insights, philosophies, and writings from amongst the most educated, sagacious, wise, moral, and ethical mentors in human history; quotes to contemplate that entertain, educate, inspire, motivate, and enlighten individuals of all ages to forever respect and maintain the "age of reason" in every successive generation; true stories of human determination to turn negative beginnings into glorious victories. What are the major pitfalls to avoid in life that are not only dangerous but devastating and self-destructive? Living life to the fullest: happy, supportive, safe, secure, content yet ambitious, and healthy. How to maximize and optimize brain and body function from birth to centenarian, longevity recommendations: vital exercise methods, vital sleep, and vital new diet insights on superfoods. How does an individual develop Hercules-like strength, fortitude, and determination to accomplish all goals and concomitantly gain ever-increasing positive self-confidence, self-esteem and motivation for benevolent, purpose-driven, occupational and family or friend relationships strengthening aspirations? Why should all humans be receptive to learning and being enlightened by other individuals in occupations and professions unrelated to their own profession, trade or job? Captivating, remarkable, true stories of worst-case scenarios and disasters experienced or witnessed in life that were confronted head-on, overwhelmed, and turned into positive outcomes; the essential perspectives all individuals must acquire and utilize daily to achieve success in all endeavors; the immensely satisfying, adventurous journey to identify your strengths and weaknesses as early as possible in life, enabling you to develop a successful life path and strategy to reach and realize your wishes, dreams, goals, and ultimate glorious, adventurous path through life. Father's Eyes is an original, unique, one-in-a-million masterpiece novel written by an author of keen insight, sound judgment, and benevolent aspirations and intentions to improve this world we live in and maximize all children's and adult "world citizens" health, happiness, and unity, as taught by and learned by the author during his lifetime and from the greatest, most read book ever published and written by Father's Eyes. There are no other books that even come close to comparison or match the zenith ideals and health guidelines prescribed by the author to achieve world peace, respect, dignity, humility, human rights acknowledgment, and blessings meant for every child born in this world, and the later versions of these children as adult "world citizens" to be assisted, guided, protected, and one day reunited with and live in perpetuity with their ultimate mentor, Father's Eyes. The author, during the writing of this book, realized and acknowledged all these ephemeral truths stated above. These truths not only motivated the author to share his own sagacious wisdom and insights, but also to perform the vital and essential research, studying our world's history, to most clearly elucidate what individuals have been the greatest mentors in this world, what mindset will most likely lead to success in all benevolent endeavors, and lastly, what has, in the past, made our world great and what is currently necessary to remain on this most desirable path of making our world great now and in the future forever! This masterfully written novel is a phenomenal read for all times and all generations. In summary, this novel is meant to both inspire and motivate all individuals, and offer precious insights, experience, health-maximizing guidance, entertainment, and enlightenment for all ages, all non-religious and religious individuals, all cultures, all skin colors, all societies, and all countries, this generation, and all generations in perpetuity.
