5/10/2023 0 Comments City clifford simakThat revulsion was so intense that Simak contemplated the extinction of his own species and its replacement by a better one. “The series was written in a revulsion against mass killing and as a protest against war.” Perhaps because we, by which I mean the post-WW II generations, have grown up aware of the deepest, most evil tendencies of humanity, it’s difficult to appreciate completely the anger and despair over what happened during the 1930s and 40s. It is a book conceived of in anger and despair, yet one that strives to posit a better, more humane world - even if it’s one devoid of humans. It’s a fix-up of nine stories, eight written between 19, and one more, added to later editions, in 1973. Simak, unfolds over thousands of years, telling of the end of humanity, the rise of dogs and robots to terrestrial preeminence, and finally, the near abandonment of Earth. Then each family circle gathers at the hearthstone and the pups sit silently and listen and when the story’s done they ask many questions:Ĭity (1952), by Clifford D. These are the stories that the Dogs tell when the fires burn high and the wind is from the north.
0 Comments
What We're Reading: Lilia, ABC The Hague staff, October 2018. This time, survival may not be possible�not even for the consort of an archangel. And in Elena�s mind whispers a haunting voice that isn�t her own. In Africa, torrential monsoon rains flood rolling deserts. In New York, a mysterious sinkhole filled with lava swallows a man whole. In China, the Archangel Favashi is showing the first signs of madness. Yet even as they fight a furious battle for Elena�s very survival, violent forces are gathering in New York and across the world. Easier to kill.Įlena and Raphael must unearth the reason for the regression before it�s too late and Elena falls out of the sky. The first mortal to be turned into an immortal in angelic memory, she�s regressing. Midnight and dawn, Elena�s wings are unique among angelkind�and now they�re failing. Archangels Prophecy Nalini Singh Buy This Book The continuing story of Raphael, the most powerful archangel in North America and Elena, his human-turned-angel consort, continues with the eleventh volume of Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series, Archangel’s Prophecy. Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh�s darkly passionate Guild Hunter world, where human-turned-angel Elena Deveraux, consort to Archangel Raphael, is thrust center stage into an eons-old prophecy. Archangel's Prophecy Nalini Singh € 14.99 If not in stock, the expected delivery time for this item will be 3 - 5 weeks. Archangels Prophecy by Nalini Singh, 9781473224575, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. 5/10/2023 0 Comments Rules by cynthia lord settingWorking as an educator for much of her life too, she knows how to impart educational material in a fun and entertaining manner. Publishing several series, she has developed these characters who really bring her stories to life, staying in the minds of the readers long after they’ve put the book down. Combining quality straightforward storytelling with bright engaging visuals, readers will continually want to keep turning the page.Ĭreating iconic characters too, Lord has introduced a number of engaging protagonists who children return for time and time again. Setting herself apart from other writers within her field too, she has very much found her own unique niche that stands out from the rest. Delivering stories with simple morals, her books always have clear messages too that are easy to understand with little problem. Her books have a real sense of rhythm to them that bounces along with ease, creating a buoyant and engaging tone for her audience. Finding an audience worldwide from this, her work has a universal appeal to it, reaching readers from all over. Publishing stories that really resonate, she allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the narrative, reading through to the end. Teaching children how to read and enjoy it at the same time, she has a gift for communicating clearly and articulately with her audience. An American children’s author, Cynthia Lord is extremely well known for her fun and educational titles for younger readers. 5/10/2023 0 Comments Douglas stuart mungoSelected as one of The Oprah Daily's Best Books of 2022From Booker-prizewinner Douglas Stuart an extraordinary, page-turning second novel, a vivid portrayal of working-class life and a highly suspenseful story of the dangerous first love of two young men: Mungo and James.Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in the hyper-masculine and violently sectarian world of Glasgow's housing estates. This is a gripping and revealing story about the bounds of masculinity, the divisions of sectarianism, the violence faced by many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much. And when several months later Mungo's mother sends him on a fishing trip to a loch in Western Scotland with two strange men whose drunken banter belies murky pasts, he will need to summon all his inner strength and courage to try to get back to a place of safety, a place where he and James might still have a future. As they fall in love, they dream of finding somewhere they belong, while Mungo works hard to hide his true self from all those around him, especially from his big brother Hamish, a local gang leader with a brutal reputation to uphold. Yet against all odds, they become best friends as they find a sanctuary in the pigeon dovecote that James has built for his prize racing birds. Growing up in a housing estate in Glasgow, Mungo and James are born under different stars - Mungo a Protestant and James a Catholic - and they should be sworn enemies if they're to be seen as men at all. This is a story of queer love and working-class families. Naomi and Ely are like a younger Will & Grace, full of witty banter and extremely close, and of course, totally co-dependent and wrong for each other. The main conflict, of course, is that Naomi still harbors a childhood crush on Ely - she's certain that they were destined for one another, and the fact that Ely has been openly and proudly gay for the last few years hasn't put a dent in her affections. The aftermath is awkward all around for everyone in the building. The past year has been rocky for them, as Naomi's father destroyed their family with an illicit affair with one of Ely's lesbian moms. Naomi and Ely are best friends who have grown up across the hall from each other in a chic New York high-rise apartment building. I picked it up because I had love, love, loved Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist written by the same authors. 5/9/2023 0 Comments The woodlanders sparknotesGiles Winterborne, meanwhile has made his own way as an honest workman. Eager to give his daughter an education and experience beyond their isolated existence Melbury has sent Grace to an exclusive boarding school. Melbury’s timber business has grown over the years and he enjoys a certain level of wealth and independence. The families live in the small village of Little Hintock, surrounded by woodland. Melbury vowed to himself that he will right his previous wrongs by seeing his daughter marry the son of Winterborne.Īs the years have gone by, however, the situations of the Melbury’s and the Winterborne’s have changed. Winterborne also married and had a son, Giles, but Winterborne has since died. He soon had a daughter, Grace, but his wife died in childbirth and Melbury has since remarried. Melbury has carried the guilt of these events ever since. Years ago, Melbury married a young woman, though, as far as he is concerned, he seduced her away from her true love a man named Winterborne. Late at night, George Melbury, a timber merchant, is outside his house pacing back-and-forth, lost in troubling thoughts. But that does not mean it contains any less of Hardy’s trademark of exploring the tragic consequences of making bad choices in love. The Woodlanders is possibly one of the lesser Hardy novels. His foster parents-and now adoptive parents-brought him into their home, sheltering him from experiencing further physical pain but the memories of his childhood still haunt him. Readers who loved Juliet and Declan will rejoice because they do make several appearances in More Than We Can Tell. I haven’t read Letters to the Lost yet, so if you haven’t read it rest assured that this is a complete standalone from that story.Īs a young child, Rev was physically and mentally abused by his father. MORE THAN WE CAN TELL is a story about life’s brokenness, the heartfelt journey to healing, first love, and mending family ties. This contemporary young adult romance is a companion to last year’s Letters to the Lost. I appreciate my readers and make it my goal to be upfront and honest. This small income goes back into my blog, so I can continue to create fun content for you. In plain English, this means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase something through the links provided. Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. (At this point, humans have no cultural memory of the name or location of the planet from which the species started.) The story told in three books - Foundation (1951), Foundation and Empire (1952) and Second Foundation (1953) - first saw the light of day in a string of short stories and novelettes published between 19.Īs the first book opens, the entire Galaxy is under the control of the Empire, headquartered on Trantor, but the brilliant mathematician Hari Seldon, creator of the field of psychohistory, has determined that, even at this moment of the Empire’s greatness, it is rotten with decay. Isaac Asmiov’s Foundation Trilogy is something else again. Both describe a post-apocalyptic world a relative short time after the bombs dropped. (1952), originally titled Star Man’s Son. Miller Jr.’s elliptical, transcendent A Canticle for Leibowitz (1960) and Andre Norton’s coming-into-manhood adventure Daybreak: 2250 A.D. When it comes to books, I can point to some I read in my teens and early twenties that still resonate with me today.įor example, in science fiction, there are Walter M. S ome of the enthusiasms of youth travel well. Sores appear on Katie’s back from the foul air, and male eyes are almost always upon her. One worker dies in a highway crash, another has a heart attack in a crane, a third is crushed by a lorry. These scenes hum with life, and many would make a fine evocation of any workplace. Colleagues, by turns cheerful, brusque, resigned, crass, sweet or despairing, ease in and out of focus as Katie changes jobs, moves sites and struggles to fit in. “Cheap labour,” explains Beaton, “where booming industry demanded it.” She takes time to show the everyday: the grumbling, the pen-pushing, strange quirks, embarrassment, camaraderie, boredom and discomfort. It’s a soul-sapping environment, staffed mostly by out-of-state workers who, like the land, are a resource to be exploited. But Katie will spend most of her time indoors, working long hours in the institutional corridors and prefab cabins that squat on this scarred wilderness. Gargantuan vehicles tear at the earth, leaving watery pits and rubble in their wake. Katie first rolls in, hunched and groggy on a pre-dawn bus, to see a shock of towers, flames and fumes blaring out of the darkness. Illustration: Kate Beatonĭucks builds its world with unhurried, immersive naturalism. Beaton’s Alberta is a world of frozen land and massive trucks. 5/9/2023 0 Comments The souls of black folk authorThe Souls of Black Folk went on to profoundly influence the civil rights movement in the US, inspiring post-colonial thinking worldwide. A collection of essays, first published in 1903, in which the author examines the role, influence, and perceptions of African-American men and. Du Bois identified three significant issues (‘the color line’ ‘double consciousness’ and ‘the veil’) that acted as roadblocks to true black emancipation, and showed how each of these in turn contributed to the problem of inequality.ĭu Bois carefully investigates all three problems, constructing clear explanations of their significance in shaping the consciousness of a community that has been systematically discriminated against, and dealing brilliantly with counter-arguments throughout. Du Bois writes several chapters in first person, therefore becoming a main character. Du Bois Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, The United States FebruDied AugGenre Sociology, History, Political Science Influences William Shakespeare, Aristotle, Alexandre Dumas, Karl Marx, Honoré de. One of the most important texts ever written on racism and black identity in America, the work contains powerful arguments that illustrate the problem of the position of black people in the US at the turn of the 20th-century. W.E.B Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk is a seminal work in the field of sociology, a classic of American literature – and a solid example of carefully-structured reasoning. |