Setouchi was eminently qualified to write this historical novel on women's liberation in Japan, which had its roots in sexual politics, socialism, and anarchism, movements in decline following the famous massacre after the Great Kanto Earthquake that devastated Tokyo and neighboring prefectures on September 1, 1923. Among those put to death in the frenzied and prejudicial aftermath of the quake was Noe Ito (1895– 1923), the heroine of Beauty in Disarray. Was Ito a selfless "new woman" or a selfish hedonist, a rare woman ahead of her time or a mere victim of her times? Noe Ito is a complex character whom no two readers will view the same way. But all will agree that author Harumi Setouchi has created a remarkable portrait of an exceptional and unusual woman.
"Harmony in Chaos" explores the unexpected beauty and order that can emerge from life's most turbulent moments. Through compelling narratives and insightful reflections, the book delves into the paradoxical nature of chaos and how it often holds the key to personal growth, creativity, and resilience. Each story serves as a testament to the idea that there lies an opportunity for profound harmony and understanding within every moment of disorder. The book takes readers on a journey through diverse landscapes, both literal and metaphorical, where chaos reigns, and yet, against all odds, a unique kind of order and beauty is revealed. From the bustling streets of a city gripped by uncertainty to the quiet introspection of an individual facing inner turmoil, "Harmony in Chaos" showcases how people navigate and ultimately thrive amid disruption. These tales highlight the resilience of the human spirit and the intricate patterns that emerge when we embrace, rather than resist, the complexities of life. At its core, "Harmony in Chaos" celebrates the human capacity to find balance amidst upheaval. It encourages readers to look beyond the surface of chaos and discover the underlying currents of harmony that guide us toward growth and enlightenment. The book's narratives are interwoven with philosophical musings and practical insights, offering a fresh perspective on approaching life's inevitable challenges with grace and poise. It is a reminder that chaos is not something to be feared but an essential part of the journey towards self-discovery and fulfillment. "Harmony in Chaos" is a poignant and thought-provoking read that resonates with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the unpredictability of life. It is an invitation to embrace the disorder and find its beauty, to recognize that even in the darkest moments, there is a potential for light and clarity. Through its rich storytelling and profound insights, the book provides a roadmap for navigating the chaos with resilience and a renewed sense of purpose.
Japan's Taisho era (1912-26) was a period of widespread unrest and radical change. Socialists were demanding the end of the class system; anarchists were calling for the overthrow of the government; a feminist movement had announced the birth of the "new woman." In the middle of all this turbulence was a woman barely out of high school, Noe Ito. Ito's life is the stuff of legend - alienation, rebellion, passion, and persecution, all in twenty-eight short years. She was married three times and gave birth to seven children; she was at the center of a scandal when another woman stabbed her lover because he had started living with Ito. Despite the turmoil of her private life, Ito spent a year as editor of the magazine Seito, one of the most revolutionary publications of the day. Was Ito a selfless "new woman" or a selfish hedonist, a rare woman ahead of her time or a mere victim of her times? Noe Ito is a complex character whom no two readers will view the same way, but all will agree that author Harumi Setouchi has created a remarkable portrait of an exceptional woman.
“A valuable primer on foreign policy: a primer that concerned citizens of all political persuasions—not to mention the president and his advisers—could benefit from reading.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times An examination of a world increasingly defined by disorder and a United States unable to shape the world in its image, from the president of the Council on Foreign Relations Things fall apart; the center cannot hold. The rules, policies, and institutions that have guided the world since World War II have largely run their course. Respect for sovereignty alone cannot uphold order in an age defined by global challenges from terrorism and the spread of nuclear weapons to climate change and cyberspace. Meanwhile, great power rivalry is returning. Weak states pose problems just as confounding as strong ones. The United States remains the world’s strongest country, but American foreign policy has at times made matters worse, both by what the U.S. has done and by what it has failed to do. The Middle East is in chaos, Asia is threatened by China’s rise and a reckless North Korea, and Europe, for decades the world’s most stable region, is now anything but. As Richard Haass explains, the election of Donald Trump and the unexpected vote for “Brexit” signals that many in modern democracies reject important aspects of globalization, including borders open to trade and immigrants. In A World in Disarray, Haass argues for an updated global operating system—call it world order 2.0—that reflects the reality that power is widely distributed and that borders count for less. One critical element of this adjustment will be adopting a new approach to sovereignty, one that embraces its obligations and responsibilities as well as its rights and protections. Haass also details how the U.S. should act towards China and Russia, as well as in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He suggests, too, what the country should do to address its dysfunctional politics, mounting debt, and the lack of agreement on the nature of its relationship with the world. A World in Disarray is a wise examination, one rich in history, of the current world, along with how we got here and what needs doing. Haass shows that the world cannot have stability or prosperity without the United States, but that the United States cannot be a force for global stability and prosperity without its politicians and citizens reaching a new understanding.
INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER The Life of a Wannabe Mogul: Mental Disarray, Bella Thorne's collection of illuminating and inspiring poems chronicles her personal struggles, relationships, and wild-child lifestyle, all with her trademark wit and wisdom.
With his stunning debut novel, She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb won the adulation of critics and readers with his mesmerizing tale of one woman's painful yet triumphant journey of self-discovery. Now, this brilliantly talented writer returns with I Know This Much Is True, a heartbreaking and poignant multigenerational saga of the reproductive bonds of destruction and the powerful force of forgiveness. A masterpiece that breathtakingly tells a story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal--this novel is a contemporary retelling of an ancient Hindu myth. A proud king must confront his demons to achieve salvation. Change yourself, the myth instructs, and you will inhabit a renovated world. When you're the same brother of a schizophrenic identical twin, the tricky thing about saving yourself is the blood it leaves on your bands--the little inconvenience of the look-alike corpse at your feet. And if you're into both survival of the fittest and being your brother's keeper--if you've promised your dying mother--then say so long to sleep and hello to the middle of the night. Grab a book or a beer. Get used to Letterman's gap-toothed smile of the absurd, or the view of the bedroom ceiling, or the influence of random selection. Take it from a godless insomniac. Take it from the uncrazy twin--the guy who beat the biochemical rap. Dominick Birdsey's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both deeply loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and-polish ex-Navy man (the five-foot-six-inch sleeping giant who snoozed upstairs weekdays in the spare room and built submarines at night), and their long-suffering mother, Concettina, a timid woman with a harelip that made her shy and self-conscious: She holds a loose fist to her face to cover her defective mouth--her perpetual apology to the world for a birth defect over which she'd had no control. Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities: the seemingly strong and protective yet fearful Dominick, his mother's watchful "monkey"; and the seemingly weak and sweet yet noble Thomas, his mother's gentle "bunny." From childhood, Dominick fights for both separation and wholeness--and ultimately self-protection--in a house of fear dominated by Ray, a bully who abuses his power over these stepsons whose biological father is a mystery. I was still afraid of his anger but saw how he punished weakness--pounced on it. Out of self-preservation I hid my fear, Dominick confesses. As for Thomas, he just never knew how to play defense. He just didn't get it. But Dominick's talent for survival comes at an enormous cost, including the breakup of his marriage to the warm, beautiful Dessa, whom he still loves. And it will be put to the ultimate test when Thomas, a Bible-spouting zealot, commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself, and the sins of his ancestors--a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily 's Mount Etna, where his ambitious and vengefully proud grandfather and a namesake Domenico Tempesta, the sostegno del famiglia, was born. Each of the stories Ma told us about Papa reinforced the message that he was the boss, that he ruled the roost, that what he said went. Searching for answers, Dominick turns to the whispers of the dead, to the pages of his grandfather's handwritten memoir, The History of Domenico Onofrio Tempesta, a Great Man from Humble Beginnings. Rendered with touches of magic realism, Domenico's fablelike tale--in which monkeys enchant and religious statues weep--becomes the old man's confession--an unwitting legacy of contrition that reveals the truth's of Domenico's life, Dominick learns that power, wrongly used, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed, and now, picking through the humble shards of his deconstructed life, he will search for the courage and love to forgive, to expiate his and his ancestors' transgressions, and finally to rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his twin. Set against the vivid panoply of twentieth-century America and filled with richly drawn, memorable characters, this deeply moving and thoroughly satisfying novel brings to light humanity's deepest needs and fears, our aloneness, our desire for love and acceptance, our struggle to survive at all costs. Joyous, mystical, and exquisitely written, I Know This Much Is True is an extraordinary reading experience that will leave no reader untouched.
An Examination of Beauty in the Christian Life from Philip Ryken The world is full of beautiful things—the vibrancy of trees in fall, the joy of sitting around a table with family—but in our fallen world, many beautiful things have been turned into ugly distortions. How should Christians think about beauty in a world that is often ugly? In Beauty Is Your Destiny, Philip Ryken provides readers with an introduction to the theology and practice of beauty, striving to awaken a longing for beauty that he explains "can only be satisfied in the face of Jesus Christ." Adapted from chapel messages given at Wheaton College, Ryken considers key topics on Christian thought—including the Trinity, the incarnation, sexuality, and racial diversity—through the lens of beauty, showing how beauty illuminates each of these biblical principles in our world today. Introduction to the Theology of Beauty: Great for college students, pastors, and small groups Biblically Based: Examines how beauty is seen in Christian doctrines such as eternity, the church, and the crucifixion Written by Philip Ryken: President of Wheaton College and author of Grace Transforming; Is Jesus the Only Way?; and Loving the Way Jesus Loves
The story of God’s relationship with the people of Israel offers many lessons to help you understand who God is and how you can be whole and complete in Him. Just as God responded to the brokenness of the people of Israel, He wants to work in the lives of people today. In The Way to Wholeness, Ray C. Stedman guides you through the book of Leviticus. This practical, in-depth study takes a closer look at the Old Testament’s rituals and directives for holy living. No matter what’s going on in your life, you can follow the path that leads to truth, wisdom, and clarity—you can discover God’s standards and experience His power to heal and restore.
He originally thought that everything had perished, but unexpectedly, everything turned out to be a cycle of reincarnation! In her previous life, she had betrayed her loved ones and was chased by her family. She had lost her life. In this life, no matter what she had to bear, she had to overturn the causes of her past life and bear the fruits of her present life! Zhao Yunwan blankly stared at the man tightly hugging her, and muttered in disbelief, "Yes ..." It's you! " The handsome man smiled as he recovered his wits and held her in his arms, "It's good that you're fine. This time, I won't let you go!"
