Download or read book Tangled Beginnings Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2018-08-24 with total page 564 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A captivating series that masterfully weaves the complexities of modern family life with the surprise joys and gifts of midlife reinvention. Jess Rand is eager to rebuild her life after a long-overdue divorce. First, she’ll sell the house that used to feel like home and start fresh at Whispering Pines, the Minnesota lake resort gifted to her sister by their late Aunt Celia. Her tumultuous marriage has mangled her belief in “happily ever after,” yet she’s excited to embrace her newfound independence. A savvy businesswoman, Jess mirrors Celia’s many talents. She’s determined to live up to the confidence Celia placed in her, despite a jumble of nerves and shaky optimism. But just as Jess finds her footing again, unforeseen challenges emerge, testing her resolve in ways she never expected. A web of deceit begins to unravel when her estranged husband disrupts a family celebration. How dare he ask Jess to care for the child he fathered with another woman? The sins of his past collide with Jess’s dreams, shattering the serene future she’d envisioned and saddling her with an unfair moral dilemma. Her emotional turmoil grows when hidden secrets and shocking accusations tied to Celia emerge. A forced collaboration with a vexing younger man from her aunt’s past could prove to be more than her bruised and battered heart can take. As she navigates a tangled maze of love, lies, and loss, will Jess discover that protecting her family is the ultimate way to honor Celia’s legacy? Tangled Beginnings, the second book in Kimberly Diede’s Gift of Whispering Pines series, brings an uplifting story of the inherent strength found in a woman wronged, the power of forgiveness, and the remarkable resilience of a mother’s heart. If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Rebecca Regnier then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to learn how to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. Join siblings Renee, Jess, Ethan, and Val as they struggle to make the most of the legacy entrusted to them. Each chapter is a testament to love, resilience, and new beginnings. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Whispering Pines a FREE Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2017-09-16 with total page 575 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Welcome to Whispering Pines, a quaint resort on the serene shores in Minnesota lake country, and a heartwarming saga that beautifully weaves together the complexities of modern family life with the unexpected gifts of midlife reinvention. Two weeks ahead of Christmas, a jarring layoff from a twenty-year career sends single mother Renee Clements back to life’s crossroads. She’s been here before. Reluctant but resilient, she prepares to dive into the job hunt. Or is it finally time to focus on her own dreams instead of building someone else’s? While the idea is tempting, she’s still responsible for raising two teenagers. Frustrated, Renee pushes pause. She’ll wait until after the holidays to make any life-altering decisions. A serendipitous trip to Fiji and a chance encounter with a handsome stranger offers a glimmer of romance, but now isn’t the time to add yet another complication to her already messy world. Could the final bequest by her dear Aunt Celia provide the answers? The opportunity to reopen Whispering Pines, a charming and historic lake resort, beckons her to a path less traveled. It’s not just a potential business venture; it’s a legacy passed down to her, a gift wrapped in memories and possibilities. Torn between a longing to recreate the idyllic childhood summers she spent at her aunt’s resort and facing the challenges of her current reality, Renee will have to choose. Perhaps, along the way, she’ll discover more than she ever expected. Whispering Pines, book one in Kimberly Diede’s Gift of Whispering Pines series, explores the depths of motherhood, the courage required to navigate and embrace change, and the unbreakable ties of family. If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Rebecca Regnier then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to learn how to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. Join siblings Renee, Jess, Ethan, and Val as they struggle to make the most of the legacy entrusted to them. Each chapter is a testament to love, resilience, and new beginnings. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Choosing Again Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2020-06-16 with total page 533 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Celebrate summers at the lake, where great food, timeless fun, and the promise of renewal await in Choosing Again, the uplifting fifth novel in the beloved Gift of Whispering Pines series. Val cherishes her role as the quintessential boy mom. She enjoys her bustling life with four kids and her husband, Luke. But beneath the surface, she craves something entirely her own. Her dreams—buried under piles of sweaty baseball uniforms and yesterday’s dirty dishes—seem more distant than ever. Carving out time to revisit, much less pursue, her old aspirations seems almost laughable. She has children to raise, and money is tight. Then the shrill ringing of Luke’s phone in the dead of night splits their world into before and after. Will the harsh realities of life tear her family and marriage apart? Seeking solace, Val retreats to Whispering Pines, her big sister’s lake resort where they spent idyllic vacations as kids. There, amidst preparations for a nostalgic Fourth-of-July celebration, Val rekindles her passion for cooking. Inspired, she envisions a bold new venture: transforming an abandoned Airstream into a mobile culinary delight with her inheritance from her Aunt Celia. New friendships at the resort create surprising temptations, and unsolicited advice leads to crushing revelations. Val must confront painful truths and the possibility of repeating past mistakes. This summer will be a time of choice and change. Can she find her path to happiness without losing everything she holds dear? Join Val and her family in Kimberly Diede’s Choosing Again, where the beauty of Whispering Pines offers the perfect backdrop for a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the power to choose a new beginning. If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Rebecca Regnier then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to learn how to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. Join siblings Renee, Jess, Ethan, and Val as they struggle to make the most of the legacy entrusted to them. Each chapter is a testament to love, resilience, and new beginnings. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Celia s Gifts Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2021-04-07 with total page 541 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Before becoming a wealthy matriarch and the proud owner of Whispering Pines, Celia Middleton faced the challenge of a lifetime—saving her family. Kimberly Diede’s heartwarming series, Gift of Whispering Pines, began with this amazing woman’s legacy. Now it’s time to discover the secrets behind her success. Intent on escaping the far-off echoes of World War II, Celia tags along to her friend’s small lake resort, Whispering Pines. She’ll soon realize the quaint family getaway is the perfect place to spend the hot, humid days of a Minnesota summer. One glorious month of sun-drenched days and starlit nights will never be enough. The tranquil environment is a balm for Celia’s anxious heart. Troubles back home fade away. Here, she can be herself, even if she doesn’t quite fit in. Her friends are focused on nabbing the perfect husband, but Celia has other plans. Her own father left them destitute, and she’s vowed to never wind up like her poor mother. Celia’s steely resolve softens as she twirls across a crowded dance floor in the arms of a man she barely knows. She’s intrigued—tempted, even. But when tragedy shatters the serenity she’s found at Whispering Pines, she faces an agonizing decision. Can Celia hold tight to her vision and battle through crushing discrimination to build the career and financial independence she so desperately seeks? Even if she manages to protect her family, how can she save Whispering Pines, too? Travel back to an earlier era in Celia’s Gifts where Kimberly Diede introduces you to a loyal, ambitious young Celia in this sixth book in her uplifting series. Immerse yourself in the making of an incredible woman. Will societal expectations and unthinkable loss destroy Celia, or will she emerge stronger than ever? If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Julia Clemens then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Capturing Wishes Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2019-10-31 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Can old dreams find new life amongst sparkling tinsel and twinkling lights? Virginia defied the odds to make nearly all of her girlhood wishes come true. Except for one. She’s spent decades doing work she’s loved alongside a supportive husband. Now health struggles and languishing sales at her beloved bookstore threaten more than her livelihood. Walking away would be the practical thing to do, but Virginia isn’t a practical woman. Nathan needs to figure out his life. College graduation is looming, and he should be in the job hunt, but his dreams don’t include cubicles or corporate ladders. He’d rather help Virginia and her husband make the most of this holiday shopping season. If he can’t help turn things around, their life’s work will fade away. When a chance discovery unearths Virginia’s biggest regret, can she finally summon the courage to try again, or is it too late? Will things fall into place, or will it all fall apart? It feels impossible, but no one should underestimate the magic of the season. Capturing Wishes, the fourth book in Kimberly Diede’s uplifting Gift of Whispering Pines series, will take you on a heartfelt exploration of new and old loves, fresh and forgotten dreams, and the inevitable perks of different perspectives. The pull of Whispering Pines continues. Whether you are new here or eager to continue on your journey with this refreshing circle of family and friends, you deserve the gift of this feel-good story. It will remind you we never outgrow the power of a wish. If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Rebecca Regnier then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. Join Celia’s family as they struggle to make the most of the legacy entrusted to them. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Celia s Legacy Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2022-01-28 with total page 537 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Celia Middleton sacrificed nearly everything to become the wealthy matriarch of her family and the proud owner of Whispering Pines. After everything she’s been through, does she have the strength to hold on to it all? Celia overcame rampant discrimination by proving herself, time and again, to build the unique life she envisioned. Now retirement will bring her the freedom to finally relax and have fun at Whispering Pines again . . . unless haunting memories threaten that dream, too. Old friends know best, so when Ruby suggests it’s time for Celia to walk away from Whispering Pines, she’s afraid the woman might be right. She used to fantasize about seeing the world. Should she let the resort go and travel instead, while she’s still young enough to enjoy it? Every choice comes with a cost. Celia will have to fight to keep her heart open through the hurt and loss that comes with aging. She may grow old alone, but she refuses to be lonely. She’s learned valuable lessons along the way, and her family needs her hard-earned wisdom more than ever. Can she help her precious nieces and nephew—Renee, Jess, Ethan, and Val—avoid the regrets that tarnish her golden years? Celia’s Legacy, the seventh book in Kimberly Diede’s uplifting Gift of Whispering Pines family saga, will take you along on Celia’s final journey as she battles to protect what she worked so hard to build so it can serve generations to come. What more could a woman want? If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Julia Clemens then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Rebuilding Home Family Drama Midlife Women s Fiction written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2019-07-01 with total page 589 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Embark on another heartfelt journey of family, friendship, and finding home again in the third book of the heartwarming Gift of Whispering Pines series. When Ethan’s life is upended, his primary focus is to protect his three teenagers from the sting of divorce. Raised in a nurturing environment, he is determined to provide the same for his kids. Fortunately, he’s not alone—his sisters and best friend are by his side, offering unwavering support. Juggling the roles of devoted father, business owner, and now landlord, Ethan inherits more than just property from his Aunt Celia; he inherits a chance to craft a new beginning. But when a devastating fire threatens to undo all his efforts, Ethan confronts the possibility that the hardest challenges come from within. Betrayal and loss test him, but a camping trip with his sons sounds like the perfect escape from endless hours of work and worry. Yet the questions remain: What does Ethan need to rebuild his life? Can the bonds of old friendships and the love of family teach him to trust again? Kimberly Diede invites us back to the complex world of this modern family as they face the relatable trials of midlife in Rebuilding Home. Follow Ethan as he navigates life’s unexpected turns, learns the power of resilience, and rediscovers the foundations of home and happiness. If you enjoy books by Fiona Baker, Hope Halloway, or Rebecca Regnier then give yourself the gift of this series. The Gift of Whispering Pines Series Escape to Whispering Pines with this unforgettable family. They’ll come together to learn how to heal and thrive, despite the inevitable wounds that life delivers. Join siblings Renee, Jess, Ethan, and Val as they struggle to make the most of the legacy entrusted to them. Each chapter is a testament to love, resilience, and new beginnings. If you enjoy a family saga filled with unanticipated twists, second chances, and the many gifts life offers, you’ll delight in your visit to Whispering Pines! Whispering Pines (Book 1) Tangled Beginnings (Book 2) Rebuilding Home (Book 3) Capturing Wishes (Book 4) Choosing Again (Book 5) Celia’s Gifts (Book 6) Celia’s Legacy (Book 7) Related Series by Kimberly Diede: The Kaleidoscope Girls Series When five young girls connect at summer camp over butterflies, drama, and a simple craft project, they're destined to become forever friends, dubbing themselves The Kaleidoscope Girls. Decades later, they'll discover their wings together as they navigate life's difficult transformations, and find comfort in knowing their journeys are richer and better with friends. Better with Friends (Book 1) Sunshine and Friends (Book 2) Five Golden Friends (Book 3) Gift of Friends (Book 4) Life with Friends (Book 5)

Download or read book Better with Friends A Women s Friendship Series Book One written by Kimberly Diede and published by Kimberly Diede. This book was released on 2022-11-15 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Welcome to the stories of a fun group of old friends as they navigate the challenges of midlife together. Life is hard, but forever friends make it better. Jackie Turner has never felt so invisible. As a top performer, the forty-eight-year-old is shocked when she’s passed over for a promotion at work. Has she become irrelevant? It’s a bitter pill, but she vows to keep her disappointment to herself as she travels back home to Minnesota for her thirty-year high school reunion. She deserves this unspoiled time to reconnect with her lifelong best friends. Their special friendship kicked off at summer camp when five young girls bonded over butterflies, a troubling accusation, and a simple craft project. They dubbed themselves the Kaleidoscope Girls, and not even their turbulent high school years could tear them apart. They promised to stay close, but life can thwart even the best of intentions. Decades later, Jackie realizes she needs her lifelong friends now more than ever. Who better to turn to for advice on navigating the highs and lows of midlife? Her career feels stale, her nest is empty, and her father is fighting a battle he can’t win. She needs a fresh start, and together with the rest of the Kaleidoscope Girls, Jackie will hit the road and experience what it feels like to have fun again. Experience the magic of female friendships in Better with Friends, the first book in The Kaleidoscope Girls women’s fiction series. Let Kimberly Diede, best-selling author of the popular Celia’s Gifts Whispering Pines series, give you a glimpse into the early years and bring you along as the next chapters unfold for these five amazing women. Their future journeys will be even richer, thanks to old friends. Let the Kaleidoscope Girls remind you that the best is yet to come. If you enjoy books by Hope Holloway, Fiona Baker, or Rebecca Regnier then join along in the fun with The Kaleidoscope Girls. THE KALEIDOSCOPE GIRLS series, in order Better with Friends Sunshine and Friends Five Golden Friends Gift of Friends (coming May 2024) Also by Kimberly Diede is the uplifting Gift of Whispering Pines women’s fiction series, where you will feel like part of an amazing family. GIFT OF WHISPERING PINES series in order Whispering Pines Tangled Beginnings Rebuilding Home Capturing Wishes Choosing Again Celia’s Gifts Celia’s Legacy First Summers at Whispering Pines (FREE novella, visit her website for more)

Download or read book Quill Quire written by and published by . This book was released on 2002 with total page 544 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Bookseller and the Stationery Trades Journal written by and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 1410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Official organ of the book trade of the United Kingdom.

Download or read book Happy Any Day Now written by Toby Devens and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-08-06 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every five years my mother had her fortune read by Lulu Cho, owner of the Golden Lotus Massage Club for Men. Now it was my turn. And Lulu predicted one hurricane of a future for me! Judith Soo Jin Raphael’s childhood was shaped by her hardworking immigrant mother, her father who left them, and her struggles to fit in as a half-Korean, half-Jewish kid in a tough urban neighborhood. But music lessons gave her a purpose and passion. Now, as Judith’s fiftieth birthday nears, she has rewarding work as a cellist with the Maryland Philharmonic, an enthusiastic if uncommitted lover, and a quirky but close relationship with her mother. Then chaos strikes: Judith’s first love, who dumped her decades ago, returns to dazzle her with his golden pedigree and brilliant career. Her long-absent father arrives out of the blue with a snazzy car and a con man’s patter, turning her mother into a love-struck flirt whom Judith barely recognizes. All this while her mentor at the orchestra falls seriously ill. No wonder Judith develops a paralyzing case of stage fright. Judith finds herself feeling—and sometimes acting—slightly unhinged, but she’s convinced that happiness will arrive any day now. She’s just got to hold on tight during this midlife shake-up...and claim the prize that life surely has in store for her. CONVERSATION GUIDE INCLUDED

Download or read book TLA Film Video and DVD Guide 2002 2003 written by David Bleiler and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2001-11-03 with total page 785 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A film, video, and DVD guide for the true lover of the cinema, this volume focuses on independent and international films as well as the best of the mainstream. 450 photos throughout.

Download or read book Testimony written by Scott Turow and published by Grand Central Publishing. This book was released on 2017-05-16 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scott Turow, #1 New York Times bestselling author and "one of the major writers in America" (NPR), returns with a page-turning legal thriller about an American prosecutor's investigation of a refugee camp's mystifying disappearance. At the age of fifty, former prosecutor Bill ten Boom has walked out on everything he thought was important to him: his law career, his wife, Kindle County, even his country. Still, when he is tapped by the International Criminal Court--an organization charged with prosecuting crimes against humanity--he feels drawn to what will become the most elusive case of his career. Over ten years ago, in the apocalyptic chaos following the Bosnian war, an entire Roma refugee camp vanished. Now for the first time, a witness has stepped forward: Ferko Rincic claims that armed men marched the camp's Gypsy residents to a cave in the middle of the night--and then with a hand grenade set off an avalanche, burying 400 people alive. Only Ferko survived. Boom's task is to examine Ferko's claims and determinine who might have massacred the Roma. His investigation takes him from the International Criminal Court's base in Holland to the cities and villages of Bosnia and secret meetings in Washington, DC, as Boom sorts through a host of suspects, ranging from Serb paramilitaries, to organized crime gangs, to the US government itself, while also maneuvering among the alliances and treacheries of those connected to the case: Layton Merriwell, a disgraced US major general desperate to salvage his reputation; Sergeant Major Atilla Doby,a vital cog in American military operations near the camp at the time of the Roma's disappearance; Laza Kajevic, the brutal former leader of the Bosnian Serbs; Esma Czarni, Ferko's alluring barrister; and of course, Ferko himself, on whose testimony the entire case rests-and who may know more than he's telling. A master of the legal thriller, Scott Turow has returned with his most irresistibly confounding and satisfying novel yet.

Download or read book Grief Is the Thing with Feathers written by Max Porter and published by Graywolf Press. This book was released on 2016-06-07 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here he is, husband and father, scruffy romantic, a shambolic scholar--a man adrift in the wake of his wife's sudden, accidental death. And there are his two sons who like him struggle in their London apartment to face the unbearable sadness that has engulfed them. The father imagines a future of well-meaning visitors and emptiness, while the boys wander, savage and unsupervised. In this moment of violent despair they are visited by Crow--antagonist, trickster, goad, protector, therapist, and babysitter. This self-described "sentimental bird," at once wild and tender, who "finds humans dull except in grief," threatens to stay with the wounded family until they no longer need him. As weeks turn to months and the pain of loss lessens with the balm of memories, Crow's efforts are rewarded and the little unit of three begins to recover: Dad resumes his book about the poet Ted Hughes; the boys get on with it, grow up. Part novella, part polyphonic fable, part essay on grief, Max Porter's extraordinary debut combines compassion and bravura style to dazzling effect. Full of angular wit and profound truths, Grief Is the Thing with Feathers is a startlingly original and haunting debut by a significant new talent.

Download or read book Self Renewal written by John W. Gardner and published by Pickle Partners Publishing. This book was released on 2018-02-27 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “The only stability possible is stability in motion.”—John William Gardner In his classic treatise Self-Renewal, John W. Gardner examines why great societies thrive and die. He argues that it is dynamism, not decay, that is dramatically altering the landscape of American society. The twentieth century has brought about change more rapidly than any previous era, and with that came advancements, challenges, and often destruction. Gardner cautions that “a society must court the kinds of change that will enrich and strengthen it, rather than the kind of change that will fragment and destroy it.” A society’s ability to renew itself hinges upon its individuals. Gardner reasons that it is the waning of the heart and spirit—not a lack of material might—that threatens American society. Young countries, businesses, and humans have several key commonalities: they are flexible, eager, open, curious, unafraid, and willing to take risks. These conditions lead to success. However, as time passes, so too comes complacency, apathy, and rigidity, causing motivation to plummet. It is at this junction that great civilizations fall, businesses go bankrupt, and life stagnates. Gardner asserts that the individual’s role in social renewal requires each person to face and look beyond imminent threats. Ultimately, we need a vision that there is something worth saving. Through this vision, Gardner argues, society will begin to renew itself, not permanently, but past its average lifespan, and it will at once become enriched and rejuvenated.

Download or read book How History Gets Things Wrong written by Alex Rosenberg and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2018-10-09 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why we learn the wrong things from narrative history, and how our love for stories is hard-wired. To understand something, you need to know its history. Right? Wrong, says Alex Rosenberg in How History Gets Things Wrong. Feeling especially well-informed after reading a book of popular history on the best-seller list? Don't. Narrative history is always, always wrong. It's not just incomplete or inaccurate but deeply wrong, as wrong as Ptolemaic astronomy. We no longer believe that the earth is the center of the universe. Why do we still believe in historical narrative? Our attachment to history as a vehicle for understanding has a long Darwinian pedigree and a genetic basis. Our love of stories is hard-wired. Neuroscience reveals that human evolution shaped a tool useful for survival into a defective theory of human nature. Stories historians tell, Rosenberg continues, are not only wrong but harmful. Israel and Palestine, for example, have dueling narratives of dispossession that prevent one side from compromising with the other. Henry Kissinger applied lessons drawn from the Congress of Vienna to American foreign policy with disastrous results. Human evolution improved primate mind reading—the ability to anticipate the behavior of others, whether predators, prey, or cooperators—to get us to the top of the African food chain. Now, however, this hard-wired capacity makes us think we can understand history—what the Kaiser was thinking in 1914, why Hitler declared war on the United States—by uncovering the narratives of what happened and why. In fact, Rosenberg argues, we will only understand history if we don't make it into a story.

Download or read book The Leaving written by Tara Altebrando and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2016-06-07 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Six were taken. Eleven years later, five come back--with no idea of where they've been. A riveting mystery for fans of We Were Liars. Eleven years ago, six kindergartners went missing without a trace. After all that time, the people left behind moved on, or tried to. Until today. Today five of those kids return. They're sixteen, and they are . . . fine. Scarlett comes home and finds a mom she barely recognizes, and doesn't really recognize the person she's supposed to be, either. But she thinks she remembers Lucas. Lucas remembers Scarlett, too, except they're entirely unable to recall where they've been or what happened to them. Neither of them remember the sixth victim, Max--the only one who hasn't come back. Which leaves Max's sister, Avery, wanting answers. She wants to find her brother--dead or alive--and isn't buying this whole memory-loss story. But as details of the disappearance begin to unfold, no one is prepared for the truth. This unforgettable novel--with its rich characters, high stakes, and plot twists--will leave readers breathless.