Download or read book Shadows Bright as Glass written by Amy Ellis Nutt and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-04-05 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On a sunny fall afternoon in 1988, Jon Sarkin was playing golf when, without a whisper of warning, his life changed forever. As he bent down to pick up his golf ball, something strange and massive happened inside his head; part of his brain seemed to unhinge, to split apart and float away. For an utterly inexplicable reason, a tiny blood vessel, thin as a thread, deep inside the folds of his gray matter had suddenly shifted ever so slightly, rubbing up against his acoustic nerve. Any noise now caused him excruciating pain. After months of seeking treatment to no avail, in desperation Sarkin resorted to radical deep-brain surgery, which seemed to go well until during recovery his brain began to bleed and he suffered a major stroke. When he awoke, he was a different man. Before the stroke, he was a calm, disciplined chiropractor, a happily married husband and father of a newborn son. Now he was transformed into a volatile and wildly exuberant obsessive, seized by a manic desire to create art, devoting virtually all his waking hours to furiously drawing, painting, and writing poems and letters to himself, strangely detached from his wife and child, and unable to return to his normal working life. His sense of self had been shattered, his intellect intact but his way of being drastically altered. His art became a relentless quest for the right words and pictures to unlock the secrets of how to live this strange new life. And what was even stranger was that he remembered his former self. In a beautifully crafted narrative, award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Ellis Nutt interweaves Sarkin’s remarkable story with a fascinating tour of the history of and latest findings in neuroscience and evolution that illuminate how the brain produces, from its web of billions of neurons and chaos of liquid electrical pulses, the richness of human experience that makes us who we are. Nutt brings vividly to life pivotal moments of discovery in neuroscience, from the shocking “rebirth” of a young girl hanged in 1650 to the first autopsy of an autistic savant’s brain, and the extraordinary true stories of people whose personalities and cognitive abilities were dramatically altered by brain trauma, often in shocking ways. Probing recent revelations about the workings of creativity in the brain and the role of art in the evolution of human intelligence, she reveals how Jon Sarkin’s obsessive need to create mirrors the earliest function of art in the brain. Introducing major findings about how our sense of self transcends the bounds of our own bodies, she explores how it is that the brain generates an individual “self” and how, if damage to our brains can so alter who we are, we can nonetheless be said to have a soul. For Jon Sarkin, with his personality and sense of self permanently altered, making art became his bridge back to life, a means of reassembling from the shards of his former self a new man who could rejoin his family and fashion a viable life. He is now an acclaimed artist who exhibits at some of the country’s most prestigious venues, as well as a devoted husband to his wife, Kim, and father to their three children. At once wrenching and inspiring, this is a story of the remarkable human capacity to overcome the most daunting obstacles and of the extraordinary workings of the human mind.

Download or read book Shadows in the Mind s Eye written by Janyre Tromp and published by Kregel Publications. This book was released on 2022-04-19 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Tromp weaves a complex historical tale incorporating love, suspense, hurt, and healing--all the elements that keep the pages turning." —Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on--responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who's come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam's experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand--but that everyone is learning to fear. Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn't the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts? Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she's terrified he's going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam's mental wounds--or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life? Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

Download or read book In The Shadow Of The Banyan written by Vaddey Ratner and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-09-13 with total page 436 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A stunning, powerful debut novel set against the backdrop of the Cambodian War, perfect for fans of Chris Cleave and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins with the footsteps of her father returning home in the early dawn hours bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Soon the family's world of carefully guarded royal privilege is swept up in the chaos of revolution and forced exodus. Over the next four years, as she endures the deaths of family members, starvation, and brutal forced labour, Raami clings to the only remaining vestige of childhood - the mythical legends and poems told to her by her father. In a climate of systematic violence where memory is sickness and justification for execution, Raami fights for her improbable survival. Displaying the author's extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyanis testament to the transcendent power of narrative and a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience. 'In the Shadow of the Banyanis one of the most extraordinary and beautiful acts of storytelling I have ever encountered' Chris Cleave, author of The Other Hand 'Ratner is a fearless writer, and the novel explores important themes such as power, the relationship between love and guilt, and class. Most remarkably, it depicts the lives of characters forced to live in extreme circumstances, and investigates how that changes them. To read In the Shadow of the Banyan is to be left with a profound sense of being witness to a tragedy of history' Guardian 'This is an extraordinary debut … as beautiful as it is heartbreaking' Mail on Sunday

Download or read book In Her Mind written by Laura Shone and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2013-12-17 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lost in her madness, Elliannah couldn't speak for over half a year, but now, she has found her voice. She endeavours all the hardships as she goes on her journey to discover her past, but one question remains. When she finally discovers her past, will she return to the madness that once consumed her, or will she find the ability to cope?

Download or read book Shadows of the Mind written by Roger Penrose and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 1994 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents the author's thesis that consciousness, in its manifestation in the human quality of understanding, is doing something that mere computation cannot; and attempts to understand how such non-computational action might arise within scientifically comprehensive physical laws.

Download or read book Until the Shadows Lengthen written by Hannah Clayton and published by Shadowlit Books. This book was released on 2023-11-27 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: BEWARE THE CALIGINENT. Saffron has been imprisoned in Medlock's Detention, where the guards are soulless, the prisoners are secretive, and the shadows are sharpening their claws. But she knows something even darker is lurking in the depths of the cells. Her friend Ray was detained here before he mysteriously vanished. The only clues he left were warning messages about a monster that feeds on thoughts and devours sanity. A monster that may still be watching from the dark corners of every room. THE CALIGINENT WILL EAT YOUR MIND. Saffron is now determined to discover what happened to Ray. She is willing to search through forbidden rooms, cultish séances, and brainwashing drug trials to uncover the secrets kept in the ever-growing shadows. Including the secrets she's keeping from herself. RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

Download or read book The Shadows Behind Her Smile written by Karen Millie-James and published by . This book was released on 2016-03-03 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Book of Shadows written by Phyllis Curott and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2013-07-03 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since Phyllis Currot first published Book of Shadows, the story of her spiritual journey and initiation as a High Priestess in the Wiccan community, Witchcraft has captured America's imagination as a theme for fiction, television shows, and films. Now America's highest-profile Witch returns to dispel more myths and misrepresentations of her faith, and to share a practical guide to the beautiful spiritual rituals and philosophies behind Wiccan tradition. Rich with enchanting stories from Currot's own experiences and detailed advice for creating potions, working with Nature, and finding the Divine within, Witch Crafting is much more than just another superficial recipe book. Curott's unique guidebook integrates the inspiration of religious wisdom with sound, practical information. Witch Crafting reveals how to: incorporate Wiccan practices into your daily life; master the secret arts of effective spell casting; create sacred space and personal rituals; perform divinations for insight and success; and tap the magical power of altered states, such as dreaming meditation, prayer, and trance. Perfect for beginners or seasoned practitioners, Witch Crafting is the ideal handbook for anyone seeking to unlock the divine power that makes real magic happen, and to experience the power and gifts of the universe more fully.

Download or read book On Gryphon s Wings written by T. C. Portier and published by BalboaPress. This book was released on 2013-10-28 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A trip to Egypt turns fatal for Cody and Alex. After spending thirty years in London, fleeing their homeland, a secret that was kept for years is revealed to their son Titus. Strange events occur that fill their simple lives with danger, and dark forces rally to strike against them. But hope is kindled as they reunite with old friends. However, their reunion is greeted with tragic news from home surrounding Codys family. Cody and Alex are forced to leave behind their lives in London and embark of a new journey to embrace a new destinyone filled with many changes and challenges. Their first challenge: the defeat of Persiam, the demon of fear.

Download or read book The Stoop written by Barbara Barbato and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2011-08-26 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Travel with young Timothy O'Malley and his family as they depart their beloved Ireland in 1917, setting sail for the magic land called America; leaving behind grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles and friends; some of whom they knew they would never see again. Stand with the O'Mallys on the deck of the transatlantic ocean liner as they say their tearful good-byes and set sail for the other side of the world. Feel the wonderment young Timmy experiences as he sets out to learn all he can about the people and the country he will soon call home. Feel the excitement as it mounts in anticipation of seeing the beautiful and magic statue called Lady Liberty when he and his little sister Molly spot her for the first time far off on the horizon. Walk with Timothy as he begins his journey in Brooklyn, New York; the strange new city in this strange new land. Tag along as Timmy learns the importance of true friendship and the value of trust and love. Keep in step with Timmy as he grows from little boy to young man; meeting the challenges of life in a new country that takes him on his journey into manhood.

Download or read book Chambers s Journal written by and published by . This book was released on 1921 with total page 896 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Shadows from the Past written by Jake Corner and published by Wheatmark, Inc.. This book was released on 2010 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's 1944, and the Birmingham Miners and the Memphis Blues are duking it out in the Negro League World Series! Martha Jones, a fairer than fair-skinned beauty straight out of the red light district of Atlanta, returns to her Birmingham home after an Atlanta tycoon leaves her a sizeable fortune. Along with the fortune, she brings with her a secret that must be protected at all costs. She begins a scandalous love affair with Walter Banks, Sr., another tycoon many years her senior and owner of the Birmingham Miners. The affair seems doomed, but Walter pledges to protect Martha with his life when dangers start to multiply. In spite of the trials that befall them, Martha and Walter band together to navigate their way through a web of intrigue, blackmail, murder, and baseball. About the Author Shadows from the Past is Jake Corner's debut novel. He lives in Seattle with his wife, Sharon, and is currently working on his next book, The Snatchings.

Download or read book The Shadows Between Us written by Tricia Levenseller and published by Feiwel & Friends. This book was released on 2020-02-25 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King, is back with an epic YA tale of ambition and love in The Shadows Between Us... “They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.” Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power: 1) Woo the Shadow King. 2) Marry him. 3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself. No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it. But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen? “Tricia Levenseller’s latest, The Shadows Between Us, is a decadent and wickedly addictive fantasy, full of schemes and court intrigue, and delightful descriptions of food, which I am always a fan of.” —Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series

Download or read book The Wild Reel written by Paul Brandon and published by Tor Books. This book was released on 2004-06-01 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When young Irish artist Natasha Newlyn paints, she hears music; a wild, secret symphony of ancient jigs and reels that accompany her stunning watercolor landscapes. Natasha lives in a small sea village in the far west of Ireland, the perfect place for her work...or at least it was until the dreams came. Starting as nothing more than vague erotic images, the dreams begin to grow. Then they begin to affect her art...and intrude into her real life. When an invitation arrives to attend her friend's wedding in Brisbane, Australia, Natasha seizes the chance to have a vacation and sort out her confused mind. But there is someone else who can also hear her secret music. Someone unearthly and dangerous. Someone who covets her: Finvarra, the Faerie King of Connaught. He has decided that she will be his next bride, and to that end he will follow her to the other side of the world. But the entire Irish Faerie Court is a little out of place in the sub-tropical streets of Brisbane, Australia; and like many things, winning the heart (or at least the soul) of a mortal just isn't as easy as it used to be. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Download or read book Queens of Mana A retelling of Pacific Islands folklore written by Matt Larkin and published by Incandescent Phoenix Books. This book was released on 2019-11-14 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dive into the Worldsea in this epic Polynesian mythology series in the Eschaton Cycle historical fantasy universe. Queens clash … Worlds bleed. The octopus god has seized control of the mer kingdom of Mu, and Namaka will do anything to destroy him. In desperation, she seeks aid from the other god-queens of Sawaiki. Yet they are embroiled in an all-out war for control of the world above the waves, and can spare no effort for the benthic realm. A final battle is coming … with paradise hanging in the balance. Queens of Mana is the third novel of the Heirs of Mana series. It continues an epic melding Polynesian myths, Pacific Islander folklore, and dark fantasy in a world of endless ocean. For fans of Michael R. Fletcher, Zamil Akhtar, and Ben Galley, this is a dark mythological retelling filled with gods and monsters from the Oceanic world. This series serves as a prequel to Gods of the Ragnarok Era.

Download or read book Doctor Princess Is Prickly written by Xi BeiXiaoMei and published by Funstory. This book was released on 2020-08-02 with total page 867 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Li's parents, Li Yu Chu, was framed for infidelity, caged and sunk. When he returned, his personality had changed drastically. He had beaten up his stepmother and abused his own younger sister. His methods had been extremely ruthless. What a joke, how could she dress up as a sloppy young miss that could be easily bullied! Rumors had it that the Li family's eldest daughter had become a yaksha and was carrying a prostitute who didn't know who her father was. No one dared to marry her! I am the mother Yaksha I am proud, I bring the oil bottle I am proud of! As for who would dare to marry — what was the point of having two men lined up in front of Li's house? The little bun jumped out, "Mother, I'll choose your man!" Pick and choose... Li Yu Chu smacked his lips and asked, "Bastard, and you chose such a cripple for your mother?" "He said that he can eat soft food in the kitchen and bring children. Mother, I think it's suitable for you!"

Download or read book The Flame written by Gabriele D'Annunzio and published by Graphic Arts Books. This book was released on 2021-06-21 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Flame (1900) is a novel by Gabriele D’Annunzio. Inspired by the author’s interpretation of the work of Friedrich Nietzsche and Walter Pater, The Flame is a semi-autobiographical account of the end of D’Annunzio’s relationship with famed actress Eleonora Dusa. Considered a central text of Italian Decadentism, the novel has earned comparisons to the work of Oscar Wilde and Joris-Karl Huysmans. “With an all-comprehensive glance, she looked around at all the beauty of this last twilight of September. In the dark wells of her eyes were reflected the circles of light made by the oar as it flashed in the water, which was illuminated by the glittering angels that shone from afar on the campaniles of San Marco and San Giorgio Maggiore.” Venice, a symbol of the Renaissance, is changing. The churches and canals of old remain, but an era of cultural achievement is coming to a close. As the public anticipates the death of legendary composer Richard Wagner, who has taken to his deathbed at the palace of Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, Stelio Effrena dreams of establishing his reputation as one of Italy’s greatest poets. Filled with theories of art and philosophies of life, possessing an undeniable mastery of language, he nevertheless feels uninspired by his muse, the aging actress La Foscarina. Meditative and introspective, The Flame has attracted praise for its portrayal of nineteenth century Venice, a city seemingly lost in time. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s The Flame is a classic work of Italian literature reimagined for modern readers.