Download or read book Eight Million Gods and Demons written by Hiroko Sherwin and published by Plume. This book was released on 2003-06 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Meiji-era Japan, Emi dares hope that her new baby will help mend the rift in her marriage. That is, until she meets Hana, an extraordinarily beautiful and wicked geisha, and discovers a betrayal so devastating it would take the aid of eight million gods and demons--the number of deities in the Japanese pantheon--to overcome.
Download or read book Eight Million Gods written by Wen Spencer and published by Baen Publishing Enterprises. This book was released on 2013-06-15 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A contemporary fantasy of mystery and death as American expats battle Japanese gods and monsters to retrieve an ancient artifact that can destroy the world. On Saturday afternoon, Nikki Delany thought, "George Wilson, in the kitchen, with a blender." By dinner, she had killed George and posted his gory murder to her blog. The next day, she put on her mourning clothes and went out to meet her best friend for lunch to discuss finding a replacement for her love interest. Nikki is a horror novelist. Her choice of career is dictated by an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that forces her to write stories of death and destruction. She can't control it, doesn't understand it, but can use it to make money anywhere in the world. Currently "anywhere" is in Japan, hiding from her mother who sees Nikki's OCD as proof she's mentally unstable. Nikki's fragile peace starts to fall apart when the police arrest her for the murder of an American expatriate. Someone killed him with a blender. Reality starts to unravel around Nikki. She's attacked by a raccoon in a business suit. After a series of blackouts, shes accompanied by a boy that no one else can see, a boy who claims to be a god. Is she really being pursued by Japanese myths¾or is she simply going insane? What Nikki does know for sure is that the bodies are piling up, her mother has arrived in Japan to lock her up for the rest of her life¾and her novels always end with everyone dead. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Download or read book Eight Million Gods and Demons written by Hiroko Shāwin and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Five years in the writing, Eight Million Gods and Demons is the mesmerizing debut novel of Hiroko Sherwin. With echoes of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Hiroko Sherwin evokes the demons of her country's past to explore the complexities of the human condition. The profoundly moving story of three generations of the Imura family begins with Emi Imura's brave fight against epilepsy as we embark on a poignant odyssey into the family's turbulent history. Her husband, Taku, idealist and modernizer, loves his wife, yet betrays her with Geisha Hana. Dreaming of playing a part in world affairs, his own life inevitably reflects the ambitions of his country as it progresses onwards in its ill-conceived and ill-fated quest for Japanese supremacy in Asia. Spanning the Japanese Meiji era in the 1890s to the Second World War, Eight Million Gods and Demons is a haunting epic of jealousy, forbidden love and loss.
Download or read book Eight Million Gods and Demons written by Hiroko Shāwin and published by Plume Books. This book was released on 2003 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Meiji-era Japan, where the standard of beauty is the graceful geisha and the greatest joy a woman can hope for is to produce healthy heirs for her husband, an idealistic Japanese politician named Taku takes Emi as his child bride. Emi, a gifted koto player, cherishes Taku's doting love until Emi's inability to conceive causes a rift in their marriage.
Download or read book Billions Billions written by Carl Sagan and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 1998-05-12 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the final book of his astonishing career, Carl Sagan brilliantly examines the burning questions of our lives, our world, and the universe around us. These luminous, entertaining essays travel both the vastness of the cosmos and the intimacy of the human mind, posing such fascinating questions as how did the universe originate and how will it end, and how can we meld science and compassion to meet the challenges of the coming century? Here, too, is a rare, private glimpse of Sagan’s thoughts about love, death, and God as he struggled with fatal disease. Ever forward-looking and vibrant with the sparkle of his unquenchable curiosity, Billions & Billions is a testament to one of the great scientific minds of our day. Praise for Billions & Billions “[Sagan’s] writing brims with optimism, clarity and compassion.”—Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel “Sagan used the spotlight of his fame to illuminate the abyss into which stupidity, greed, and the lust for power may yet dump us. All of those interests and causes are handsomely represented in Billions & Billions.”—The Washington Post Book World “Astronomer Carl Sagan didn’t live to see the millennium, but he probably has done more than any other popular scientist to prepare us for its arrival.”—Atlanta Journal & Constitution “Billions & Billions can be interpreted as the Silent Spring for the current generation. . . . Human history includes a number of leaders with great minds who gave us theories about our universe and origins that ran contrary to religious dogma. Galileo determined that the Earth revolved around the Sun, not the other way around. Darwin challenged Creationism with his Evolution of Species. And now, Sagan has given the world its latest challenge: Billions & Billions.”—San Antonio Express-News “[Sagan’s] inspiration and boundless curiosity live on in the gift of his work.”—Seattle Times & Post-Intelligencer “Couldn’t stay awake in your high school science classes? This book can help fill in the holes. Acclaimed scientist Carl Sagan combines his logic and knowledge with wit and humor to make a potentially dry subject enjoyable to read.”—The Dallas Morning News
Download or read book Fudoki written by Kij Johnson and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2004-10 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A tortoiseshell cat whose family is destroyed in a fire that devastated most of the Imperial City embarks on a remarkable journey in search of her identity and soul, attracting the attention of ancient gods who transform her into Kagaya-hime, a woman-warrior.
Download or read book Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye A Journey written by Marie Mutsuki Mockett and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2015-01-19 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Read it. You will be uplifted.”—Ruth Ozeki, Zen priest, author of A Tale for the Time Being Marie Mutsuki Mockett's family owns a Buddhist temple 25 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. In March 2011, after the earthquake and tsunami, radiation levels prohibited the burial of her Japanese grandfather's bones. As Japan mourned thousands of people lost in the disaster, Mockett also grieved for her American father, who had died unexpectedly. Seeking consolation, Mockett is guided by a colorful cast of Zen priests and ordinary Japanese who perform rituals that disturb, haunt, and finally uplift her. Her journey leads her into the radiation zone in an intricate white hazmat suit; to Eiheiji, a school for Zen Buddhist monks; on a visit to a Crab Lady and Fuzzy-Headed Priest’s temple on Mount Doom; and into the "thick dark" of the subterranean labyrinth under Kiyomizu temple, among other twists and turns. From the ecstasy of a cherry blossom festival in the radiation zone to the ghosts inhabiting chopsticks, Mockett writes of both the earthly and the sublime with extraordinary sensitivity. Her unpretentious and engaging voice makes her the kind of companion a reader wants to stay with wherever she goes, even into the heart of grief itself.
Download or read book Eight Million Ways to Die written by Lawrence Block and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 1993-02-01 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nobody knows better than Matthew Scudder how far down a person can sink in this city. A young prostitute named Kim knew it also—and she wanted out. Maybe Kim didn't deserve the life fate had dealt her. She surely didn't deserve her death. The alcoholic ex-cop turned p.i. was supposed to protect her, but someone slashed her to ribbons on a crumbling New York City waterfront pier. Now finding Kim's killer will be Scudder's penance. But there are lethal secrets hiding in the slain hooker's past that are far dirtier than her trade. And there are many ways of dying in this cruel and dangerous town—some quick and brutal ... and some agonizingly slow.
Download or read book Gods Monsters written by Saffron A Kent and published by . This book was released on 2021-08-05 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: He was an artist. She was his muse. To everyone in town, Abel Adams was the devil's spawn, a boy who never should have been born. A monster. To twelve-year-old Evie Hart, he was just a boy with golden hair, soft t-shirts and a camera. A boy who loved taking her picture and sneaking her chocolates before dinner. A boy who made her feel special. Despite her family's warnings, she loved him in secret for six years. They met in empty classrooms and kissed in darkened church closets. Until they couldn't. Until the time came to choose between love and family, and Evie chose Abel. Because their love was worth the risk. Their love was the stuff of legend. But the thing about legends is that they are cautionary tales. They are made of choices and mistakes. And for Abel and Evie, the artist and the muse, those mistakes come in the form of lights, camera, sex.
Download or read book Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai written by Zack Davisson and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2024-06-18 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A modern day Lafcadio Hearn is picking up his ghostly torch. Zack Davisson is the author, translator, and folklorist following in Hearn's footsteps." —tofugu.com Mysterious demons, ghosts and monsters have haunted Japan for centuries! The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai presents 100 of the strangest creatures you have ever seen—from evil demons and terrifying monsters to mythical ghosts and enchanted beasts. In this book, Yokai expert Zack Davisson explains how Yokai are highly elusive, and yet without understanding them you will never truly know Japan. The Yokai profiled in this book include: Amabie: A mysterious half fish, half bird creature said to heal any affliction merely by gazing upon its image Tofu Kozo: A harmless Yokai that appears like a young child dressed in a fancy kimono with a straw hat carrying a plate of wobbly tofu Kyokotsu: The pitiful spirit of a person who was thrown down a well and died—with pale skin and a shock of white hair growing from a bleached-white skull Akaname: A disgusting Yokai who skitters about licking the scum from filthy bathtubs Kanibozu: Massive crabs, who shapeshift into human form, disguising themselves as monks asking riddles, but killing anyone who fails to answer correctly! And many more! Packed with interesting facts and entertaining stories, this book is richly illustrated with over 250 color woodblock prints and paintings that reveal the fascinating world of the Yokai.
Download or read book Kill Six Billion Demons Book 1 written by Tom Parkinson-Morgan and published by Image Comics. This book was released on 2016-09-07 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this collection of the first story arc of the popular webcomic Kill Six Billion Demons, sorority sister Allison Ruth must travel to Throne, the ancient city at the center of the multiverse, in an epic bid to save her boyfriend from the clutches of the seven evil kings that rule creation. Includes excerpts from in-universe religious texts, stories, and more
Download or read book Manga The Complete Guide written by Jason Thompson and published by Del Rey. This book was released on 2012-07-03 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: • Reviews of more than 900 manga series • Ratings from 0 to 4 stars • Guidelines for age-appropriateness • Number of series volumes • Background info on series and artists THE ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR CHOOSING BETWEEN THE BEST AND THE REST! Whether you’re new to the world of manga-style graphic novels or a longtime reader on the lookout for the next hot series, here’s a comprehensive guide to the wide, wonderful world of Japanese comics! • Incisive, full-length reviews of stories and artwork • Titles rated from zero to four stars–skip the clunkers, but don’t miss the hidden gems • Guidelines for age-appropriateness–from strictly mature to kid-friendly • Profiles of the biggest names in manga, including CLAMP, Osamu Tezuka, Rumiko Takahashi, and many others • The facts on the many kinds of manga–know your shôjo from your shônen • An overview of the manga industry and its history • A detailed bibliography and a glossary of manga terms LOOK NO FURTHER, YOU’VE FOUND YOUR IDEAL MANGA COMPANION!
Download or read book Toll the Hounds written by Steven Erikson and published by Tor Books. This book was released on 2008-09-16 with total page 1300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A thrilling, harrowing novel of war, intrigue and dark, uncontrollable magic, Toll the Hounds is the new chapter in Erikson's monumental series - epic fantasy at its most imaginative and storytelling at its most exciting. In Darujhistan, the city of blue fire, it is said that love and death shall arrive dancing. It is summer and the heat is oppressive, but for the small round man in the faded red waistcoat, discomfiture is not just because of the sun. All is not well. Dire portents plague his nights and haunt the city streets like fiends of shadow. Assassins skulk in alleyways, but the quarry has turned and the hunters become the hunted. Hidden hands pluck the strings of tyranny like a fell chorus. While the bards sing their tragic tales, somewhere in the distance can be heard the baying of Hounds...And in the distant city of Black Coral, where rules Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness, ancient crimes awaken, intent on revenge. It seems Love and Death are indeed about to arrive...hand in hand, dancing. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Download or read book Alien Taste written by Wen Spencer and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2001-07-01 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ukiah Oregon is quickly becoming one of the greatest trackers in the country. Some call it luck—those closest to him call it instinct. Abandoned as a child, he was found running with a wolf pack. Now, in his job as a private investigator, he puts his nose to the ground to track down missing persons and fugitives from the law. A heightened sense of smell and taste—plus a photographic memory—make him an invaluable asset to his partner. But when Ukiah kills a crazed young woman in self-defense, he draws the attention of the FBI’s most wanted: a violent and elusive gang known as the Pack. And it won’t be long before Ukiah discovers just how much he has in common with the Pack: a bond of brotherhood, blood...and destiny.
Download or read book Placating the Demons written by Gananath Obeyesekere and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2021-11-15 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book critically examines dominant ceremonial practices in Sri Lanka. It presents key ideas and symbolic systems that exist to this day, in similar shapes or in different guises. It looks at issues such as misfortunes caused by demons (yaksa dosa), an important ceremonial practice known as the puna-yāgaya, ideas pertaining to spirit possession, trance, and mediums. It also deals with classical Ayurvedic theories of disease, urban ceremonial practices such as cases of the apotheoses from demon to divinity, as well as multiple forms of Buddhist ceremonial practices that are part of the Sri Lankan consciousness and have found their way into public cultural performances in Sri Lanka. As a comprehensive volume on ceremonial practices in Sri Lanka, this work will be useful for scholars and researchers in cultural studies, sociology, social-anthropology, and particularly those interested in myths and rituals in South Asia.
Download or read book Japandemonium Illustrated written by Toriyama Sekien and published by Courier Dover Publications. This book was released on 2017-01-18 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Japanese folklore abounds with bizarre creatures collectively referred to as the yokai ― the ancestors of the monsters populating Japanese film, literature, manga, and anime. Artist Toriyama Sekien (1712–88) was the first to compile illustrated encyclopedias detailing the appearances and habits of these creepy-crawlies from myth and folklore. Ever since their debut over two centuries ago, the encyclopedias have inspired generations of Japanese artists. Japandemonium Illustrated represents the very first time they have ever been available in English. This historically groundbreaking compilation includes complete translations of all four of Sekien's yokai masterworks: the 1776 Gazu Hyakki Yagyō (The Illustrated Demon Horde's Night Parade), the 1779 Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki (The Illustrated Demon Horde from Past and Present, Continued), the 1781 Konjaku Hyakki Shū (More of the Demon Horde from Past and Present), and the 1784 Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro (A Horde of Haunted Housewares). The collection is complemented by a detailed introduction and helpful annotations for modern-day readers.
Download or read book God s Promises and Answers for Your Life written by Jack Countryman and published by Thomas Nelson Inc. This book was released on 1999-09-14 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Together God's Promises for Your Every Need and God's Answers for Your Life have sold in excess of eight million copies. Now these two bestsellers are available in one attractive volume.