"A fierce-hearted triumph of personal truth against power. Jyl's words stirred my spirit and sharpened my vision: a surge in our collective struggle to hold on to what is vital in a world that would deny us our humanity." Will Hall, schizophrenia diagnosis survivor & Host of Madness Radio "Poetry, the language of the soul, lays bare and expresses tumultuous emotions that can help heal the wounded spirit. These poems document one hero's journey through a dark night of the soul, that ultimately leads to the author's self-discovery, recovery and a sovereign victory. Emotionally palpable, deeply moving, artistic and inspiring!" Gwen Olsen, author of Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher
She was the one, the only American Red Hot Mama. Her career spanned six decades, taking her from the cramped apartment above her parents’ restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut, to the world’s greatest music halls. And she became, and remains, one of the biggest influences on women entertainers and comedians in American history. Sophie and Me is the story of Sophie Tucker—the colorful, spicy, bold entertainer who broke boundaries in the industry and whose popularity during her life, and celebrity even beyond it has not waned. Told through the eyes of her great-grand niece, to whom Sophie took under her wing and was both mentor and surrogate grandmother, Sophie and Me takes the reader on an intimate journey through Sophie’s extraordinary life. Sophie Tucker was an original. Zaftig, full-bodied in looks and voice, she was strong and independent before it became acceptable for women. Sophie and Me is the story of the American dream and of one woman who refused to compromise her looks or heritage to reach success. A woman who lived an untraditional life in traditional times. A woman who achieved vast fame and fortune, and yet never really was the “Yiddishe Momme” she sang about.
Michael Abramson is a collector of words and thoughts and unique objects of art and old stained glass. As a detailed stained glass window reveals a myriad of changing colors and images of light, so changes the meaning of this authors thoughts and words whether serious or humorous. He is a simple person; a physician, and a teacher, who has spent most of his life showing compassion for others. He has a deep respect for women and knows as much as anyone could about them, (often reflected in his poetry), yet he is the first to admit that no one will ever completely discover what drives such beautiful and complex beings. His views are indeed his poetic reflections as seen through some sort of colored but very wonderful light. He is a raconteur, a person of integrity and a portrait of an artist perhaps, (perhaps not), but for sure a portrait of a kind unassuming and humble man, willing to share his humor, knowledge and love with others. This volume contains more spitting images by author Michael Abramson, which are exhibited masterfully through his quotations, poetry, and free associated rambles in this much larger fifth volume of his work containing well over 850 pieces, including some of his best words from the other volumes. They will make you think, make you laugh, and maybe even make you cry. It contains stories, thoughts; humor, truths and sometimes just words which if read carefully might give you insight into the life and the mind of this clever and sensitive author.
In an increasingly common phenomenon, women who once identified as straight are leaving men for women?and they have fascinating stories to tell. In this sequel to Lambda Literary Finalist Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write About Leaving Men for Women, writers who come from a diverse array of perspectives open up and bare their souls. Essays on subjects such as repercussions, both bad and good; exes, both furious and supportive; bewildered and loyal family and friends; mind-blowing sexual and emotional awakenings; falling in the deepest of love; and finding a sense of community fill the pages of this anthology. One story is as different from the next as one person is from another. With a foreword by former Editor in Chief of AfterEllen and Trish Bendix, and essays by acclaimed writers including BK Loren, Louise A. Blum, and Leah Lax, relax, sit back and take a journey into Janeland-?a very special place where women search for, discover, and live their own personal truths.
It was the last few weeks of high school and in those few short weeks a dramatic change came about in the life of senior Paul Abbaszadeh. It can only be described as magical and "fairytale-like". After four years of futile attempts at dating he never expected to find anyone who would truly appreciate him for who he was. That all changed in an instance when he finally met that one special person. She came into his life and from then on everything changed. How beautiful life was; it had taken nearly four years and when he least expected it, love crept up on him. She was everything he could ever want in a girl, smart, charming, funny, charismatic and of course beautiful. Everything was perfect. Then the summer came and it played out like a classic Hollywood film. No other two people could have been so in love. The summer ended and they were separated in distance as they parted for college. Not even the distance could mar their love for one another as their love endured and their bond grew stronger with each passing day. One Love is a true love story, a written account taken from the Memoirs of Paul Abbaszadeh. You will discover the beauty and innocence of young love from high school to the carefree days of summer and beyond written in the most sincere form.
A provocative look at one of Canada's biggest tragedies On March 16, 2005, almost twenty years after one of the biggest mass murders in Canadian Aviation history, the Air-India Case concluded with a verdict that authors Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew predicted sixteen years ago when Soft Target was first published: not guilty. In this second edition, the two offer a detailed foreword that brings readers up-to-date with some startling new information surrounding the twin bombings on June 23, 1985 in the air over the Atlantic, and on the ground in Japan, which left 331 people dead. They offer key details from the trial of Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri that took place in a specially-built Vancouver courtroom, leads that were not followed up, and more details of India's intelligence service's clandestine interference in Canada. They explain how their own prediction that justice would not be found because of a botched investigation came true, and that only a public inquiry will offer closure to the families of the victims.
Shivram Sharma longed for success. Since childhood, his maverick dad thrust in him the urge to excel in everything. But Shivram turned out to be unsuccessful in every aspect of life. Having failed in education and career, Shivram followed the promptings of his true inner self. He wanted to live in accord with his inner longing. Where did his inner promptings lead him to? The book takes you through the arduous journey of a modern avatar and a must-read for every budding youth. “Reasoning along with Goodness and Truthfulness lead to an undisturbed, peaceful and productive state of mind with success and happy existence”. But why is it difficult to follow this simple motto in life?
Recognizing that masculine literary tradition can include marginalized male writers as well as canonized female writers and that traditions themselves change over time, the essays in this insightful and coherent collection also explore the investment of the writers, as well as ninetieth- and twentieth-century readers, in canon creation. As it reconstructs conversations between these earlier authors and initiates new dialogues for today’s readers, Soft Canons offers provocative reconceptualizations of American literary and cultural history.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Russians, a “lively and provocative”* analysis of the Soviet Union in its twilight years. *The New York Times Book Review Even from afar, the transformation in the Soviet Union held a special fascination for all of us, and not only because it affected our destiny, our survival, even the changing nature of our own society. What happened there riveted our interest for a deeper reason: It was a modern enactment of one of the archetypal stories of human existence, that of the struggle from darkness to light, from poverty toward prosperity, from dictatorship toward democracy. It represented an affirmation of the relentless human struggle to break free from the bonds of hierarchy and dogma, to strive for a better life, for stronger, richer values. It was an affirmation of the human capacity for change, growth, renewal. The New Russians is about how that story of change began and what this change meant for the Russian people—and for the rest of the world.
