Of all the myriad stars and celebrities Hollywood has produced, only a handful have achieved the fame - and, some would say, infamy - of Orson Welles, the creator and star of what is arguably the greatest film ever, Citizen Kane. Many books have been written about him, detailing his achievements as an artist as well as his foibles as a human being. None of them, however, has come so close to the real man as Chris Welles Feder does in this beautifully realised portrait of her father. In My Father's Shadow is a classic story of a life lived in the public eye, told with affection and the wide-eyed wonder of a daughter who never stopped believing that some day she would truly know and understand her elusive and larger-than-life father. The result is a moving and insightful look at life in the shadow of a legendary figure and an immensely entertaining story of growing up in the unreal reality of Hollywood.
From a son who waged a life-long struggle to live up to family expectations, George W. Bush has transformed himself through acts of will and faith. Having won a second term, he has exceeded his father's achievements and come out from his shadow. Stanley Renshon examines the psychological transformation of Bush and identifies the pivotal changes that allowed him to achieve success in his personal life and in the political arena, and shows how Bush's personal transformation has come to shape his presidency and policies. This insightful look at Bush enhances understanding of his strategies and goals, providing crucial insight into his transformational leadership, his re-election, and his likely legacy.
Though born in America, Eddie Constantine is perhaps best remembered as a film actor in France and Germany, playing the role of a hardboiled detective named "Lemmy Caution" and appearing in films by Jean-Luc Godard, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Lars von Trier. In the process of transitioning Constantine from the star of B-movies to the epicenter of the Nouvelle Vague, Jean-Luc Godard reconsecrated him as the solemn and impassive star of his extraordinary film, Alphaville. Eddie's unruffled charm, winning smile, and American credentials made him virtually untouchable. Europeans liked Constantine because he wasn't a pretty face-he had savoir faire. Constantine's daughter Tanya traveled with him throughout much of his career, and this book comes from her perspective of their troubled familial relationship. It is a testament to his legend that Constantine emerges from the candor of his daughter's autobiography somehow strengthened by her revelations of the compulsions and insecurities he made those closest to him suffer. This book presents us with universal truths about the difficulties experienced within family relationships and takes us behind the curtain of celebrity and the fixed smiles of publicity photos in a way few books ever do. I had a most unusual upbringing being the child of a celebrity. My childhood was a unique situation that only people who had experienced it could comprehend. My father was a superstar and singer in Europe in the 1950s and '60s. He and I recorded a song called "The Man and The Child" that sold over a million records in France alone, when I was just eleven years old, thus making me a celebrity too. When superstardom set in, a crazy atmosphere had overtaken our household, as fame creates pressure, fear of loss, and resentment. My father's estate became an open house to international celebrities who came to visit. Despite the fame and fortune that became part of my life, I ran away from home before the age of sixteen with the man who later became my first husband. I have spent my entire life attempting to release the pain of my upbringing.
Kaya is completing her Higher School Certificate when she is woken in the middle of the night by her mother. They are to pack immediately and go to their holiday home in the Blue Mountains. Her father is 'not coming back'. He has been involved in a court case to give evidence against some dangerous criminals. Months later, they are still in hiding and the mysteries are multiplying. Kaya is not sure who to trust: her mother's new friend, the policeman or her new friend, Eric, from the local store. She is also recovering from memory loss caused by PTSD after a chilling encounter with the criminals. She is seeing a psychologist in an attempt to recall the evidence she might have to give in a forthcoming trial. Her best friend, Jenna, has gone overseas and Kaya is trying to make sense of what is really happening. Jannali Jones has crafted a thrilling story which stays on the edge right to the end.
"John A. Gotti who survived four trials and a parole violation hearing without a guilty verdict, in four years, now takes up his pen to tell the story of his father's unwavering dedication to the street, and how as his son he entered that life and then with his father's permission left the life of crime and put the "Family" behind him to live a legitimate life with his real family. It is a saga of betrayal and redemption, and an insider's view of how at times those who are tasked with upholding the law readily broke it to further their careers."--cover.
A little boy with hair the color red-his scarlet letter-and family secrets to be disclosed only decades later. A man late in life confronted with looming mortality. These are the bookends of My Father's Shadow, a narrative nonfiction collection of timely stories with universal themes that are heartwarming, painful, distressing, humorous.
From a pampered son who showed little promise, to his rise to the presidency, George W. Bush has transformed himself through acts of will and faith. Stanley Renshon examines the psychological transformation of Bush and identifies those pivotal changes that allowed him to achieve success in his personal life and in the political arena, and shows how Bush's personal transformation has come to shape his political policies. The man who battled--and defeated--his own inner demons has become a president determined to battle the demons of terrorism and extremism that prevent democracy from flourishing around the world. This psychological portrait provides a much-needed antidote to prevailing critiques that ridicule Bush's values and policies, as it celebrates his resolve and strong leadership.
Dedicated. Driven. Determined. These words have all been used to describe Kara Rodriguez, but most aren't aware of the devastating past that made her this way. Beneath the facade of a faith-filled family, a horrible secret was kept. No one would have guessed that the sexual abuse began when Kara was only five years old, not even Kara. At the age of twelve, Kara realized she had repressed her memories of abuse. And thirteen years later, she continues to unpack them. My Father's Shadow is Kara's revealing memoir detailing the abuse, the overwhelming struggles, and her search for a Savior in the midst of great distress. Though the abuse has infiltrated every area of her life, Kara also writes of the joys of healing and the highs of traveling the world. What do you do when a secret-kept or told-continues to haunt you? What do you do when you've been betrayed? When your heart's been taken and used and thrown away? Kara's memoir provides great insight into the trauma of sexual abuse and the damage sin can cause. A true survivor memoir, My Father's Shadow is poised to change the face of literature on the topic of sexual abuse."
"The Shadow of the Father" - one of the most important books of Jan Dobraczynski, is based on the record of the Gospel, the evangelical text. It shows Joseph, the guardian of the Holy Family as a human being subjected to obedience to God and his intentions, a man who must understand and accept his part of being a shadow of the true Father of Jesus who will be born by his Miriam-chosen to him by God. Joseph, a native of Bethlehem, heir to the heritage of kings David and Solomon and the noble tribe of Judah, is up to Nazareth in search of the woman for whom he will sacrifice his life. Over there he meets a charming, friendly, yet mysterious girl named Miriam. However, starting to understand that between Miriam and him stands an impetuous force of abysmal proportions, as God's fist, will make their relationship continue unexpected ways: the One Who will be born and Who will become the liberator of the people scattered and oppressed in Israel.The book gives testimony to the values that never lose their importance: family, responsibility, patience, and true love."
'My father. That's what this is all about. Where does he end and where do I begin?' Ken Saro-Wiwa was executed in November 1995. One of Nigeria's best-loved writers and an outspoken critic of military rule, he was a prime mover in bringing the human rights abuses of Shell Oil and the Nigerian military to the attention of the world. His death was headline news internationally. The name of Ken Saro-Wiwa became a potent symbol of the struggle between a traditional way of life and the juggernaut of global commercial interests. What was it like to grow up with such a politically active and socially conscious father? How do you come to terms with your father's imprisonment and execution? How do you cope with the endless international press speculation about your father's life and character? And how do you respond when international attention is focused on you? How do you make your own way in life against your father's expectations of you, especially when you carry the same name? How do you live with such a complex personal history? This frank and memorable depiction of Ken Saro-Wiwa's childhood and relationship with his father vividly recounts the journey he took to answer those questions. Ultimately it is the story of how Ken Wiwa went looking for his father and ended up finding himself.
