A riveting white-water ride down a raging river in the Italian Alps, pitting people against Nature, in "the novel Tim Parks was born to write" (Sunday Telegraph, London). When 15 vacationers-six adults and nine adolescents-arrive in the Italian Alps to try their kayaking skills against the wild waters of the upper Aurino River, they have no idea what harrowing events await them. Among the group are the London banker Vince- recently widowed and trying to make sense of his life-and his teenage daughter Louise. Their hosts are Clive, an enigmatic but commanding leader, and his alluring but fragile girlfriend, Michela. Their lives intertwine over the next week in ways none could have foreseen, as they test their courage and varying abilities against the roaring waters, the rocks both seen and sunken, the endless treacherous logs, the flotsam and driftwood that become a liquid trap, as the threat of death accompanies them downstream. Rapids grippingly evokes the vertiginous thrill... Views: 16
A smart and funny tale of perseverance, teamwork, and the true meaning of success.Strange things are happening at Ho-Ho-Kus Junior High. The cafeteria is covered in a sea of burger wrappers. Bullies aren't bullying anymore. And there's an eerie growling coming from the walls. If anyone can get to the bottom of these mysteries, it's Denton, Wendell, Eddie, Elijah, and Bijay. They may be misfits, but they're also the smartest kids in the eighth grade. There's just one problem. Vice Principal Snodgrass has framed them for a crime they didn't commit and imprisoned them in a secret room in the bowels of the school. His terms: Ace the dreaded Idaho Tests and all will be forgiven. Their plan: figure out who--or what--is to blame for the changes at school. It will take the nerdiest of skills. It will be scarier than talking to girls. It will be a true test, one that can be passed only by a select few. And those five boys are known as DWEEB.From the... Views: 16
One of Britain's outstanding novelists, Tim Parks is also a provocative, entertaining and accomplished essayist. This new collection's title is drawn from D. H. Lawrence's fundamental belligerence, and how all the significant relationships in his life, including those with his readers and critics, were characterised by intense intimacy and ferocious conflict.
Elsewhere there are literary essays on tension and conflict in the work of Beckett or Hardy, Bernhard and Dostoevsky, amongs others. Parks is also known for his acerbic chronicles of Italian life and here are essays on Mussolini, Machiavelli and the Medici.
Besides discussing questions of history, politics and literature, The Fighter also takes on that most serious tussle: World Cup football. Views: 16
The age of exploration is not over. When Adam Shoalts ventured into the largest unexplored wilderness on the planet, he hoped to set foot where no one had ever gone before. What he discovered surprised even him. Shoalts was no stranger to the wilderness. He had hacked his way through jungles and swamp, had stared down polar bears and climbed mountains. But one spot on the map called out to him irresistibly: the Hudson Bay Lowlands, a trackless waste of muskeg and lonely rivers, moose and wolf—an Amazon of the north, parts of which to this day remain unexplored. Cutting through this forbidding landscape is a river no hunter, no explorer, no Native guide has left any record of paddling. It is far from any important waterways, even further from any settled land, and about as far from civilization as one can get. It was this river that Shoalts was obsessively determined to explore. It took him several attempts, and years of research. But finally,... Views: 15
Grigoris sits under his olive tree, reluctant to go home and face the wrath of his wife, Lena...He's not been able to sell the oranges this year, and she's going to furious!!! Just then, a little green fly lands on his shirt, and it gives him an idea - something he can use to explain why the crop failed, and deflect the blame.It's a bold lie, but it might just work...A collection of three short stories by Sara Alexi, best selling author of the Greek Village Series. Views: 15
Archon has been a soldier for the United Federation of Earth (UFE) since the day the first race of aliens invaded. Archon has learned to despise all the Aliens. So what happens we discovers half of his life force in a Venusian? Will he chose to continue to live as half a man or will he chose to accept an alien for a life mate? Views: 15
Anna had never liked the idea of Mallorca, thinking it was for the disco and beerswilling fraternity. That was until her sister hired an au pair from a rural part of the island who said it was the most beautiful place on earth. On a visit, Anna impulsively decided to buy a ruined farmhouse. Despite her fear of flying, she kept a foot in both camps and commuted to Central London to manage her PR company. But she found herself drawn away from the bustle, stress, and the superficial media world towards the tranquil life. She soon realized that her new existence was more enriching and fulfilling. She was learning to live life for its moments rather than race through it in the fast lane. A Lizard in My Luggage explores Mallorca's fiestas and traditions, as well as the ups and downs of living in a rural retreat. It is about learning to appreciate the simple things and take risks in pursuit of real happiness. Most importantly, it shows that life can be lived between two places. Views: 14
When a storm throws a rural New Zealand town into chaos, Dr. Jennifer Tremaine's professional prowess is put under pressure.Understaffed and overworked, she is relieved to see surgeon Andrew Stephenson step into the fray. She and Drew haven't seen each other since medical school, where they were in constant competition. But now things are different, as beneath the rivalry stirs a new sensation... Views: 14
Two lonely souls get a chance to make their Christmas wish come true.
When Tom Harris won back his freedom after a bitter divorce, he looked forward to getting a fresh start in life. What he didn’t realize was that his former wife had taken their mutual friends as part of the settlement. He feared that he’d be alone forever until he met Jessica Mays, who was recovering from the loss of her one true love. Can these two broken souls find some common ground to make a relationship work? Will Tom discover that there really is life after divorce? Views: 14
