Download or read book Tiny Sunbirds Far Away written by Christie Watson and published by Other Press, LLC. This book was released on 2011-05-10 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the 2011 Costa First Novel Award When their mother catches their father with another woman, twelve year-old Blessing and her fourteen-year-old brother, Ezikiel, are forced to leave their comfortable home in Lagos for a village in the Niger Delta, to live with their mother’s family. Without running water or electricity, Warri is at first a nightmare for Blessing. Her mother is gone all day and works suspiciously late into the night to pay the children’s school fees. Her brother, once a promising student, seems to be falling increasingly under the influence of the local group of violent teenage boys calling themselves Freedom Fighters. Her grandfather, a kind if misguided man, is trying on Islam as his new religion of choice, and is even considering the possibility of bringing in a second wife. But Blessing’s grandmother, wise and practical, soon becomes a beloved mentor, teaching Blessing the ways of the midwife in rural Nigeria. Blessing is exposed to the horrors of genital mutilation and the devastation wrought on the environment by British and American oil companies. As Warri comes to feel like home, Blessing becomes increasingly aware of the threats to its safety, both from its unshakable but dangerous traditions and the relentless carelessness of the modern world. Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away is the witty and beautifully written story of one family’s attempt to survive a new life they could never have imagined, struggling to find a deeper sense of identity along the way.

Download or read book Musings The Short Happy Pursuit of Pleasure and Other Journeys written by Joseph Rosendo and published by . This book was released on 2020-08 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Musings is a collection of crisp, entertaining, humorous and inspirational stories tightly written and drawn from adventurer and four-time Emmy(R)-award-winning PBS director and host Joseph Rosendo's travel and life experiences.

Download or read book The Musings of a Wandering Mind written by Shrabonee Paul and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2018-10-18 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inspired by reality, shaped with imagination, these stories beautifully capture the lives of the characters that take us through a journey into their lives . The stories subtly embrace the plethora of emotions of love, joy, sorrow, anger, fear or faith through myriad experiences of the people narrated through the pages described so beautifully that they feel so real. Set in a multi cultural societal backdrop, the stories will take you away to places which you can visualize beautifully between the lines. If you are stealing moments away from work, or just whiling away some time, or sipping on your favorite cup of tea or just trying to read a few lines before sleep settles into your eyelids, or just one of those who don’t have the patience to read novels... This book holds a humble collection of short stories that helps you unwind and enjoy.

Download or read book Jenniferology written by LL Eadie and published by Dolly Dimple Ink. This book was released on 2020-09-03 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fifteen-year-old Jennifer Brice Hamilton has been subjected to her mother’s new way of life ever since her parents’ divorce two years earlier - a move to a lower tax bracket in Chicago, an undesirable school, and her mother’s newest boyfriend: Phil. Jennifer rebels. Her mother’s answer to the “handful-slash-Jennifer” is to pack her up and send her to her grandma’s, whom Jennifer has not seen in almost three years. Her mother’s lusty plan is for Jennifer to reside there 'til Christmas. Jennifer captures her life in Flamingo Junction, Florida, with her grandmother in an ongoing diary of sorts - a sketchbook that she has titled Jenniferology - The Study of Jennifer. Jennifer’s grandmother, Mama Rudeen, lives in a retirement community called Camelot in North Florida. Mama Rudeen is not what Jennifer expected, nor are her grandmother’s friends - the gals: Miss Maggie Pearl, Miss Addie, and Miss Gaynell...and the guy - Sir Stuckie. Jennifer envisioned octogenarians sitting around waiting to take their last breath. She discovers that retirees have a zest for life. And, more importantly, they define to Jennifer what unconditional love truly means. Maybe it takes a retirement village to raise a child.

Download or read book Musings on Minutiae written by Weston Locher and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2009-12-18 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Welcome to Weston Locher's Musings on Minutiae where the author offers up hilarious observations and insights on topics of great importance such as: Living in an urban apartment complex ( if I become an admitted pet owner, then I have to pay not only a several hundred dollar deposit to the apartment complex, but I'm pretty sure that they also reserve the right to harvest some of my bodily organs ), living with felines ( as I'm walking anywhere in my apartment. They scamper in front of my legs, causing me to fall and face plant into whatever furniture is closest. They especially like to play this game when I'm carrying piping hot coffee.), his childhood Memories (Our family was nearly torn apart on several occasions by arguments started when the refrigerator door was open for what my father deemed as 'too long.'), and much more. Chock full of humorous essays and personal anecdotes, Musings on Minutiae will keep you laughing for as long as you have a pulse.

Download or read book Satin Island written by Tom McCarthy and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2015-02-17 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Short-listed for the Man Booker Prize From the author of Remainder and C (short-listed for the Man Booker Prize), and a winner of the Windham-Campbell Literature Prize, comes Satin Island, an unnerving novel that promises to give us the first and last word on the world—modern, postmodern, whatever world you think you are living in. U., a “corporate anthropologist,” is tasked with writing the Great Report, an all-encompassing ethnographic document that would sum up our era. Yet at every turn, he feels himself overwhelmed by the ubiquity of data, lost in buffer zones, wandering through crowds of apparitions, willing them to coalesce into symbols that can be translated into some kind of account that makes sense. As he begins to wonder if the Great Report might remain a shapeless, oozing plasma, his senses are startled awake by a dream of an apocalyptic cityscape. In Satin Island, Tom McCarthy captures—as only he can—the way we experience our world, our efforts to find meaning (or just to stay awake) and discern the narratives we think of as our lives.

Download or read book Cheddar Off Dead written by Korina Moss and published by St. Martin's Paperbacks. This book was released on 2022-03-29 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Agatha Award Winner for Best First Novel In Korina Moss's cozy series debut, Cheddar Off Dead, cheesemonger Willa Bauer discovers that her new home in a small Sonoma Valley town is ripe for murder... something here stinks to high heaven, and Willa knows it's not the cheese. Cheesemonger Willa Bauer is proving that sweet dreams are made of cheese. She’s opened her very own French-inspired cheese shop, Curds & Whey, in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. The small town of Yarrow Glen is Willa's fresh start, and she's determined to make it a success – starting with a visit from the local food critic. What Willa didn’t know is that this guy never gives a good review, and when he shows up nothing goes according to plan. She doesn’t think the night can get any worse... until she finds the critic’s dead body, stabbed with one of her shop’s cheese knives. Now a prime suspect, Willa has always believed life’s problems can be solved with cheese, but she’s never tried to apply it to murder...

Download or read book The Price of Silence written by Calle J. Brookes and published by Lost River Lit Publishing, L.L.C.. This book was released on 2016-12-22 with total page 371 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE PROTECTOR. —THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE. Former homicide detective Melody Beck has always taken care of her younger sisters. But lately…that was the one area in which she’d failed. Her younger sister has just barely escaped a band of vicious killers. And the threat wasn’t over yet. Melody is still searching for answers. All signs now point to the richest man in Texas being the mastermind behind the attacks. That billionaire is still out there. Watching. Watching them all. Melody is going to see he pays for what he did… Except there is one small complication she hadn’t told her family about. The billionaire’s son. The one man she couldn’t forget. The man she had loved before. HIS FATHER ISN'T A KILLER. —HE NEEDS A WAY TO PROVE IT. Houghton Barratt knows there is no way his father would have harmed an innocent family. The only way Houghton can fix this is by going after the woman accusing his father and convince her to tell the truth to the media outlets. Even if his own plans for her older sister aren't exactly on the up and up. A different Beck sister is Houghton’s real target now. MELODY IS COMING WITH HIM. —WHETHER SHE WANTS TO OR NOT. He has a daring plot to fix everything. And it all hinges on Melody. Houghton is right there in front of her before Melody can even begin to escape. Now, she is a hostage, a pawn in his game. A game he intends to win. But as Houghton tangles with Melody, the real mastermind is getting closer. Closer than they could imagine. Only this time the killer’s focusing on Melody—and the sisters she'll do anything to protect. Houghton makes Melody a vow he would willingly die to keep: Melody will never be the price Houghton pays for his father…

Download or read book Mermaid Musings written by Leya Van Doren and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-10-02 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A collection of poems centered on meditations about the sea, universe, female empowerment, and what it means to be an artist. Raw and unfiltered, this book gives great insight into the thoughts of a millennial woman navigating love, spirituality, the mundane, higher consciousness, and a deep appreciation for life.

Download or read book Musings written by Ma Ra and published by Partridge Publishing Singapore. This book was released on 2018-07-20 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What happens when attraction becomes affection? It is when you see the person, you heave a sigh. It is when you see their smile, your dismal day becomes sunny and bright. It is when you hear their voice, you go uh-oh while your heart dances a do-si-do. It is when you look into their eyes and all of a sudden, thousands of shooting stars flicker and a vibrant moon bow starts illuminating the night sky. And endless thoughts about the person start inhabiting your mind and you can not stop musing. Musing, thats what happens when attraction becomes affection. It is when you still see them, even if you close your eyes. It is when you smile every time you think of them. It is when you dance even to a silent tune. It is when your normal day becomes extraordinary just because you remember them! Now, all your days and nights are occupied with thoughts of them and your journal is filled with your Musings.

Download or read book The Price of Thirst written by Karen Piper and published by U of Minnesota Press. This book was released on 2014-10-01 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “There's Money in Thirst,” reads a headline in the New York Times. The CEO of Nestlé, purveyor of bottled water, heartily agrees. It is important to give water a market value, he says in a promotional video, so “we're all aware that it has a price.” But for those who have no access to clean water, a fifth of the world's population, the price is thirst. This is the frightening landscape that Karen Piper conducts us through in The Price of Thirst—one where thirst is political, drought is a business opportunity, and more and more of our most necessary natural resource is controlled by multinational corporations. In visits to the hot spots of water scarcity and the hotshots in water finance, Piper shows us what happens when global businesses with mafia-like powers buy up the water supply and turn off the taps of people who cannot pay: border disputes between Iraq and Turkey, a “revolution of the thirsty” in Egypt, street fights in Greece, an apartheid of water rights in South Africa. The Price of Thirst takes us to Chile, the first nation to privatize 100 percent of its water supplies, creating a crushing monopoly instead of a thriving free market in water; to New Delhi, where the sacred waters of the Ganges are being diverted to a private water treatment plant, fomenting unrest; and to Iraq, where the U.S.-mandated privatization of water resources destroyed by our military is further destabilizing the volatile region. And in our own backyard, where these same corporations are quietly buying up water supplies, Piper reveals how “water banking” is drying up California farms in favor of urban sprawl and private towns. The product of seven years of investigation across six continents and a dozen countries, and scores of interviews with CEOs, activists, environmentalists, and climate change specialists, The Price of Thirst paints a harrowing picture of a world out of balance, with the distance between the haves and have-nots of water inexorably widening and the coming crisis moving ever closer.

Download or read book Wicked As You Wish written by Rin Chupeco and published by Sourcebooks, Inc.. This book was released on 2021-10-01 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What if every story you'd ever heard was true? Jack killed the giants. Red slayed the wolf. Rapunzel fled the tower. But the greatest one of all, had yet to be told. Once upon a time, the magical Kingdom of Avalon was left to wither and die after the Snow Queen encased it in ice. Its former citizens are now refugees. Which is why crown prince Alex and his protectors are stuck in... Arizona. Tala Makiling has lived her life as an outsider. Her family curse, the one that's doomed her to be a spellbreaker, someone who destroys magic, hasn't won her too many friends. Except Alex, who trusts her and her family to keep his royal identity a secret. And then one night, a famous creature of legend, the Firebird, appears in their tiny town, reigniting hope for their abandoned homeland. Alex and Tala team up with a ragtag group of new friends to journey back to Avalon. Their path is filled with danger—from deadly prophecies, to terrifying ice wolves, a traitor among them, and the Snow Queen herself. But if they succeed... their story would be legendary. "A great read for fans of fairy tales, myths and legends... Come for the adventure, stay for the sassy jerkwad firebird."—Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series Gripping, fantastical, and delightfully funny, Wicked As You Wish is perfect for readers looking for: young adult magic, mythology, and folklore LGBTQ representation diverse characters creative new takes on classic stories fresh and dazzling world building Praise for Wicked As You Wish: "Glorious."—Shelf Awareness "Combining legends, myths, fairy tales, and classic children's literature from Oz to Neverland, Chupeco (The Bone Witch) creates an enchanting story that is both a feast for the senses and a unique spin on the hero's journey...A nail-biting quest that introduces a gripping new series."—STARRED review, Publishers Weekly "...A truly original novel. A deftly executed melding of folklore and reality grounded in contemporary issues."—STARRED review, Kirkus

Download or read book Seven Deadly Shadows written by Courtney Alameda and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2020-01-28 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thrilling YA retelling of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai features a girl tasked with saving the world from eternal darkness. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Marie Lu. Seventeen-year-old Kira Fujikawa has never had it easy. She’s bullied by the popular girls in school. Her parents ignore her. And she’s also plagued with a secret: She can see yokai, the ghosts and demons that haunt the streets of Kyoto. But things accelerate from bad to worse when she learns that Shuten-doji, the demon king, will rise at the next blood moon to hunt down an ancient relic and bring the world to a catastrophic end. Not exactly skilled at fighting anything, much less the dead, Kira enlists the aid of seven powerful death gods to help her slay Shuten-doji. They include Shiro, a kitsune with boy-band looks who is more flirtatious than helpful, and O-bei, a regal demon courtier with reasons of her own for getting involved. As the confrontation with Shuten-doji draws nearer, the fate of Japan hangs in the balance. Can Kira save humankind? Or will the demon king succeed in bringing eternal darkness upon the world?

Download or read book Morning Musings written by Reinhard von Hennigs and published by . This book was released on 2020-07-27 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These Morning Musings are based on questions and observations inspired by trans-national business transactions. In this book, the author follows legal and business developments in different countries and muses about them. Whether it is about business decisions, immigration challenges, trademark disputes, or liability management, all of these topics ignite the global thinking. The book gives you food for thought and many reasons to reflect and to smile. Curiosity about these topics will most likely morph into a larger contemplation to foster a better understanding of global trends. - mus·ing (myo͞o′zĭng), adj. Deep in thought; contemplative, n.1. Contemplation; meditation 2. A product of contemplation; a thought The other day a friend called me and started the conversation by saying, "OK, boomer," and he laughed. I realized he did not mean me personally - clearly, I am not a boomer by the common generational approach - but it was his way of saying, "I watched your musing, and I liked it." Additionally, I get this question, sometimes during dinner meetings or small talk, "What is the source of your ideas?" Do you want to know what inspires me every day? Where do I develop the ideas for the Morning Musings?Clearly talking with my family about life and the world, traveling to different continents, working as the Chairman of an international law firm serving global clients and their businesses: All of this together is the ongoing source of my inspiration. My musings are based on questions and observations arising out of working trans-national business transactions. I also follow legal and business developments in different countries. And there is so much food for thought. Or reason to reflect and smile. Is there time to allow this thought to develop and to morph into a contemplation? "Brief and packed full of information, insight and humor. These Morning Musings have opened my eyes and helped me better understand today's ever changing world. OK Boomer, do you want to start your day out armed with information? I sure do! I start my day with the Morning Musing. These timely talks somehow make their way into my daily life and make me seem smarter. By the way, has anyone found our family Christmas Pickle ornament? Warning: The Musings may make you think and want to know more."- Kenneth W. Bacon, President and CEO Horizon Electric, Inc. "Refreshing view on a topic which continues to be discussed during these unprecedented times. Reinhard's ability to make these thought provoking discussions seem like you are sitting down with your neighbor make this book a must read." - Rich Baich, Chief Information Security Officer, AIG "Each musing, which is itself only a few paragraphs, provides a full depth and wealth of information. Despite there being a lot of information within each musing, the book is produced in a way that is easy to read and understand. I believe this is Reinhard's deeper idea, not just to inform, but to make me as the reader or listener think or smile about the world and humanity at large." - Dr. Henning O. Bruns, Chairman of the Leadership Committee of the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC South), North Carolina Chapter - Senior Partner CON MOTO Consulting Group Inc. "Reinhard has a vast knowledge of complex global business issues and distills his thoughts for a quick read. His wit contributes to very entertaining and informative musings. A great way to get up to speed with current events affecting international business operations." - Johnelle Causwell, Citizen Diplomacy Program Director, International House Charlotte "Reinhard's musings are a great way to get a comprehensive, in-depth overview of the current market situation.. Especially now, that rules & regulations change so quickly, it's important to stay on top. These musings are definitely a great, effective way to do so."- Hans H. Hilgenstock, Key Account Manager Carolinas, Kuehne + Nagel, Inc.

Download or read book The Story Road written by Bill Gurnon and published by Story-Booker. This book was released on 2020-05 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An entertaining collection of true-life stories told by a trained storyteller.

Download or read book Musings A Collection of 8 Short Stories and a Novella written by Manjari Narayana and published by Partridge Publishing. This book was released on 2015-01-31 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book Musings comprises of eight short stories and a novella. The first story narrates the harrowing experiences of an Indian housewife trying to break away from the shadows of her authoritarian and nagging spouse. The second story talks about a middle-aged painters musing, whose bewitching beauty inspires him to paint her life-size portrait. The third and the fourth stories recount the mischief and pranks of little girls driving their mothers into a tizzy with their escapade. The fifth and the eighth stories are packed with wisdom while the sixth and the seventh portray how young career women manage their personal and social affairs gracefully in modern India. The Novella Over the Horizon is about a small-towner, Piya, who finds love in a soulless yet mesmerizing metropolis. Read on to find out how things unfold.

Download or read book Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die written by Willie Nelson and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2012-11-13 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Willie Nelson muses about his greatest influences and the things that are most important to him, and celebrates the family, friends, and colleagues who have blessed his remarkable journey. Willie riffs on everything, from music to poker, Texas to Nashville, and more. He shares the outlaw wisdom he has acquired over the course of eight decades, along with favorite jokes and insights from family, bandmates, and close friends. Rare family pictures, beautiful artwork created by his son, Micah Nelson, and lyrics to classic songs punctuate these charming and poignant memories. A road journal written in Willie Nelson's inimitable, homespun voice and a fitting tribute to America’s greatest traveling bard, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die—introduced by another favorite son of Texas, Kinky Friedman—is a deeply personal look into the heart and soul of a unique man and one of the greatest artists of our time, a songwriter and performer whose legacy will endure for generations to come.