The Islands of Divine Music

The Islands of Divine Music

Author: John Addiego

Publisher: Unbridled Books

Published: 2008-10-01

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 1936071258

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The Islands of Divine Music is a novel of five generations of an Italian-American family finding its place in the New World. Against a backdrop of Immigration, Prohibition, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the new millennium, five generations of the Verbicaro family make their way from Southern Italy to San Francisco as each character brushes up against some aspect of the divine. The family matriarch is Rosari, a little girl whose family flees Italy because her prodigality is exploited by illiterate kidnappers. After her beautiful, psychotic mother’s suicide, the girl and her despondent father come to San Francisco, where she meets the man she’ll marry, a handsome, fiercely strong peasant named Giuseppe Verbicaro. The twelve linked stories of The Islands of Divine Music are portraits of family members whose lives are interwoven in one narrative that spans 100 years. Rosari and Giuseppe’s oldest son, Narciso, a handsome and dim-witted dandy, barely evades death and the stain of organized crime by his simple-minded innocence and luck, while his passionate brother Ludovico, a talented third baseman in the old San Francisco minor leagues, falls prey to the illicit dreams of a wise guy from the Gambino family. His scheme to smuggle Cuban cigars to the San Francisco Bay nearly ends in drowning but leads to a kind of salvation. Their youngest brother, Joe, a brilliant child and shrewd businessman, is ashamed of his ethnicity and, in particular, his father. This is due in part to the fact that Giuseppe, wandering North Beach, believes that God directs him to marry a teen-aged, pregnant Mexican prostitute named Maria. Further senility, faith, or vermouth convinces the old man that Maria’s child, Jesus, is the product of an immaculate conception. The event is both a family disgrace and a bizarre blessing. The child’s life and tragic death come to have a profound effect on Giuseppe’s progeny, particularly Joe’s children: Penelope, who flees the country following involvement in deadly anti-Vietnam War activities, and her brothers Paulie and Angelo, who are inspired by the young Jesus to embark upon a quest of several thousand miles to recover the family’s lost and most prized spiritual treasures.


Divine Music in Archaic and Classical Greek Art

Divine Music in Archaic and Classical Greek Art

Author: Carolyn Laferrière

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2024-01-31

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 1009315943

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This book examines representations of divine music to argue that visual arts could communicate the sound of divine music being depicted.


Oracle of the Angels

Oracle of the Angels

Author: Olivia Evans

Publisher: Ahzuria Publishing

Published: 2024-05-22

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13:

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Discover the transformative power of angels with "Oracle of Angels - Rituals and Practices" by Olivia Evans, an essential work for all who seek a deep connection with the divine. This comprehensive spiritual guide explores the timeless wisdom of angels, offering powerful rituals and spiritual practices that open a direct channel to celestial beings. In each chapter, you will find an in-depth exploration of the qualities and symbolism of archangels like Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel. Learn how to invoke Michael's protection, heal with Raphael's energy, receive revelations from Gabriel, and find wisdom and repentance with Uriel. Each archangel is presented with specific practices and rituals, powerful prayers, and ancient methods that allow you to access their blessings and guidance. "Oracle of Angels - Rituals and Practices" is not just a book; it is a portal to a spiritual journey that elevates the soul and strengthens the spirit. Ideal for spiritual practitioners, esoteric scholars, and anyone seeking a life more connected to the sacred. Olivia Evans combines deep knowledge with accessibility, making this guide an indispensable companion for spiritual growth. Prepare to transform your life with the wisdom and protection of angels. Find "Oracle of Angels - Rituals and Practices" on major self-publishing platforms like Google Books, Apple Books, Draft2Digital, and Kobo. Elevate your spirituality and feel the presence of angels by your side every step of your journey. Buy now and begin your spiritual transformation today!


Plato’s Trial of Athens

Plato’s Trial of Athens

Author: Mark A. Ralkowski

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2018-11-29

Total Pages: 249

ISBN-13: 1474227260

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What can we learn about the trial of Socrates from Plato's dialogues? Most scholars say we can learn a lot from the Apology, but not from the rest. Plato's Trial of Athens rejects this assumption and argues that Plato used several of his dialogues to turn the tables on Socrates' accusers: they blamed Socrates for something the city had done to itself. Plato wanted to set the record straight and save his city from repeating her worst mistakes of the 5th century. Plato's Trial of Athens addresses challenging questions about the historicity of Plato's dialogues, and it traces Plato's critique of Athenian public life and polis culture from the trial in 399 up through the Laws and the Atlantis myth in the Critias and Timaeus. In the end, Ralkowski shows that what began as a bitter response to the unjust, politically-charged trial of Socrates, evolved into a pessimistic reflection on the role of philosophy in a democratic society, a theory about Athens' 5th century decline, and cautionary tale about the corrupting influences of naval imperialism.