At first, Willy was stoic when the doctor told him that he had pancreatic cancer and only six months left to live. But Willy rebelled against his own mind and philosophy, and he made a decision; With the time left to him he would do what he had spent a lifetime denying – he would have some fun! With that thought in his mind Willy's Bucket List was created.William J. Demeter received the news of his death with the same stoicism that he demonstrated in all areas of his life. When the doctor told him that he had pancreatic cancer he accepted it with stoic resolve, and when the doctor told him he had only six months left to live he accepted that news the same way. It was only after rereading Voltaire's Candide that doubts started to creep in. The question hadn't crossed his mind in many years, in fact it had laid long buried in his subconscious for most of his adult life, but the genie had been re-released and could not be put back into the bottle with any success - “if God is both All-powerful and Good, why is there evil in the world? As Voltaire had railed against Pope's “Clear truth that what is, is right” and Leibnitz’s belief that “this was the best of all possible worlds” Willy now rebelled against his own mind and philosophy, and he made a decision.With the time left to him he would do what he had spent a lifetime denying – he would have some fun! With that thought in his mind Willy's Bucket List was created. “If I am going to die soon then what is the point of denying myself anything that would make that time more pleasant?” Views: 502
A poignant and inspirational love story set in Burma, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats spans the decades between the 1950s and the present. When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be…until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father’s past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the reader’s belief in the power of love to move mountains. Views: 501
This gathering of all Dylan Thomas's stories, ranging chronologically from the dark, almost surrealistic tales of Thomas's youth to such gloriously rumbustious celebrations of life as A Child's Christmas in Wales and Adventures in the Skin Trade, charts the progress of "The Rimbaud of Cwmdonkin Drive" toward his mastery of the comic idiom.Here, too, are stories originally written for radio and television and, in a short appendix, the schoolboy pieces first published in the Swansea Grammar School Magazine. A highpoint of the collection is Thomas's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog, a vivid collage of memories from his Swansea childhood that combines the lyricism of his poetry with the sparkle and sly humor of Under Milk Wood. Also here is the fiction from Quite Early One Morning, a collection planned by Thomas shortly before his death.Altogether there are more than forty stories, providing a rich and varied literary feast and... Views: 501
From his triumphant debut with Snow Crash to the stunning success of his latest novel, Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson has quickly become the voice of a generation. In this now-classic political thriller, he and fellow author J. Frederick George tell a savagely witty, chillingly topical tale set in the tense moments of the Gulf War.
**When a foreign exchange student is found murdered at an Iowa University, Deputy Sheriff Clyde Banks finds that his investigation extends far beyond the small college town—all the way to the Middle East. Shady events at the school reveal that a powerful department is using federal grant money for highly dubious research. And what it’s producing is a very nasty bug.
Navigating a plot that leads from his own backyard to Washington, D.C., to the Gulf, where his Army Reservist wife has been called to duty, Banks realizes he may be the only person who can stop the wholesale slaughtering of thousands of Americans. It’s a lesson in foreign policy he’ll never forget.
From the Trade Paperback edition. Views: 501
From the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of The Theory of Everything and Darkest Hourcomes the fascinating and revealing tale of an unprecedented transfer of power, and of two very different men - who both happen to live in the Vatican. SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING ANTHONY HOPKINS AND JONATHAN PRYCE. In February 2013, the arch-conservative Pope Benedict XVI made a startling announcement: he would resign, making him the first pope to willingly vacate his office in over 700 years. Reeling from the news, the College of Cardinals rushed to Rome to congregate in the Sistine Chapel to pick his successor. Their unlikely choice? Francis, the first non-European pope in 1,200 years, a one time tango club bouncer, a passionate soccer fan, a man with the common touch.Why did Benedict walk away at the height of power, knowing his successor might be someone whose views might undo his legacy? How did Francis - who used to ride the bus to... Views: 500
As though ripped from today's headlines, Christian author Ilyan Kei Lavanway explores what might happen to American families if parents fail to recognize how government alphabet agencies might legally use school children as bait during false flag exercises or feigned emergencies to lure parents into internment camps under the guise of public safety. Implausible? Ask a 90-year-old Austrian.As a nation, we have ignored almost two centuries of prophetic warnings. The stage has already been set by those we have allowed to hold sway in our country. Do we recognize what's coming? Will we merely react to the crisis after it happens, or will we act in time to change the course of our nation and prevent the crisis? Can we take a lesson from 1940s Austrian history and prevent a repeat? As though ripped from today's headlines, Christian author Ilyan Kei Lavanway explores what might happen to American families if parents fail to recognize how government alphabet agencies might legally - yes legally, lawfully - use school children as bait during false flag exercises or feigned emergencies to lure parents into internment camps under the guise of public safety. Do you own a gun? Is it registered? Are you loyal to the United States Constitution? If you answered yes to all three of these questions, you are probably on somebody's list of potential enemies of the state. FEMA Camp Parent Trap is a wake up call. For those who think it's implausible, ask a 90-year-old Austrian. If you can find one. Views: 500
This is a short story I wrote inspired by some of the things recently going on in my life and some of my thoughts. I recently had problems opening up to anyone and the whole situation was frustrating everyone. I talked to my doctor about it and she suggested therapy. That's where the whole idea of this story came from, even though I never got therapy myself. Enjoy.This is a short story I wrote inspired by some of the things recently going on in my life and some of my thoughts as well. I recently had problems opening up to anyone and the whole situation was frustrating everyone. I talked to my doctor about it, since I didn't know who else to go to, and she suggested therapy. She said with the crazy stuff going on in the lives of today's children, it's good to talk things out. I wanted to give it a try but I never got to, sadly. But that's where I got the whole idea of writing this story came from. It's a "what if" kind of story. Just joking. Enjoy. Views: 500
A mesmerizing odyssey through an unforgiving landscape, and the rich history it reveals.What does it mean to explore and confront the unknown? Beyond the Trees recounts Adam Shoalts's epic, never-before-attempted solo crossing of Canada's mainland Arctic in a single season. It's also a multilayered story that weaves the narrative of Shoalts's journey into accounts of other adventurers, explorers, First Nations, fur traders, dreamers, eccentrics, and bush pilots to create an unforgettable tale of adventure and exploration. Interspersed with his stories of navigating mazes of shifting ice floes, facing down snarling bears and galloping musk-ox, and portaging along knife-edge cliffs above furious rapids, are the fascinating legends, historic persons, and incredible anecdotes that make up the lore of the North. They include the saga of the Mad Trapper, a man whose feats of endurance and ingenuity were almost as legendary as his violent end; the story of the... Views: 500
In the bestselling tradition of Hampton Sides's In the Kingdom of Ice, a riveting and cinematic tale of Dutch polar explorer William Barents and his three harrowing Arctic expeditions—the last of which resulted in a relentlessly challenging year-long fight for survival.The human story has always been one of perseverance—often against remarkable odds. The most astonishing survival tale of all might be that of 16th-century Dutch explorer William Barents and his crew of sixteen, who ventured farther north than any Europeans before and, on their third polar exploration, lost their ship off the frozen coast of Nova Zembla to unforgiving ice. The men would spend the next year fighting off ravenous polar bears, gnawing hunger, and endless winter. In Icebound, Andrea Pitzer masterfully combines a gripping tale of survival with a sweeping history of the great Age of Exploration—a time of hope, adventure, and seemingly unlimited... Views: 500
Economist John Jason Grant is in the emergency room, and thinks back on his life. He then decides to reach for some of those dreams he once had.These are three stories and a poem. Two of the stories are short stories. One is a novella. It is intended for older teenagers/young adults. It does contain some material and language that is not suitable for younger readers. Love stories that are meant to touch the hearts of everyone regardless of age, because that's how love works. I don't like these synopsis they make us write. It's a love story enjoy it, or not, don't over think it. Sorry I'm still writing because they are making me add words. Have a Happy Valentines! Views: 499
Jim Shoemaker comes upon an interesting new business venture of his neighbors, a never-ending yard sale. But there is more to this sale than meets the eye.Jim Shoemaker comes upon an interesting new business venture of his neighbors, a never-ending yard sale. But there is more to this sale than meets the eye. Bram and Linda Cain are ideal folks, they're the perfect young couple with a terrible secret. Jim is about to find that their cute slogan "We Sell Anything" is more true than he could ever imagine.“Merchandise is an excellent book—a real page turner. Read it in one sitting.” – Kurt Frazier, author of 49098 to 36575If you like what you read, write a review and spread the word! Views: 499
Ogunquit, Maine; "A Beautiful Place By The Sea" explodes from 1200 to 64,000 residents as the largest casino in the world!Richmond Rand an identical twin - former Marine sniper and two accomplices target highly paid CEO's, switches identity with his brother who has no idea of the plot.Richmond wins 17 million. When the accomplices are found dead in their motel room all signs point to Richmond.The Abenaki Indian Tribe is awarded 15,000 acres in a U.S. Supreme Court decision for land taken illegally by the U.S. government in 1850. Their goal: to construct the world's largest casino inOgunquit, Maine, a quaint New England seaside village of 1200 in winter and explodes into the largest gambling casino in the world. The influx of people required to run the casino and support services (65,000) are absorbed into the bordering towns.Richmond Rand an ex-Marine sniper and identical twin infuriated by highly compensated CEO bonuses, plots to "shoot to main" but not kill the golden boys of the corporate world with the help of two accomplices.In a bizzare event, Richmond wins 17 million dollars on a slot machine and plans to kill his accomplices. However, in order to accomplish hismission he switches identity with his twin Richard who has no knowledge of the scheme. The accomplices are found dead in the trio' hotel room. Did Richard the inncent brother pay for the sins of the older twin? Sensational murder trial! Views: 499
Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery begin their search for the One Tree that is to be the salvation of the Land. Only he could find the answer and forge a new Staff of Law--but fate decreed that the journey was to be long, the quest arduous, and quite possibly a failure.... Views: 499
Fifteen-year old Melanie has run away and is lost in the Californian desert. The search party is told she is mute. But is Melanie really mute, or is there an unspeakable secret in her life? Melanie's terrifying adventure is about the difficulty of putting thoughts into words, of being heard and understood and loved.Fifteen-year old Melanie has run away and is lost in the Californian desert. The search party is told she is mute. But is Melanie really mute, or is there an unspeakable secret in her life? Yes -- Melanie’s is terrified by the thought of allowing anyone into her mind, of putting thoughts into words. And so Melanie has decided not to talk. She prefers her perfect fantasy world to the problematic reality of a broken family and bullies at school. Lost in the desert, she discovers that she isn't the only one who has problems with words. A young man doesn’t understand “No”. An illegal immigrant has no voice in America. A gay man can’t explain himself. An old man is silenced by a stroke. Melanie doesn’t talk because she is afraid of being misunderstood, but love and longing finally make her speak out. Views: 498
