Forty Steps and Other Stories


Book Description

This collection of sixteen short stories is set in Egg Rock, a fictional town north of Boston. They are written in approximate chronological order spanning hundreds of years and are linked not only by the setting but by the reappearance of characters, their ancestors, and descendants. Many are loosely based on local North Shore legends and historical events. Ragnhild is an adviser to Thorvald Eiriksson, son of Erik the Red and brother of Leif, on his voyages to Vinland. He describes their discovery of an idyllic almost island during Thorvalds last days. Ezra Newhall is a jack-of-all-trades who works at Egg Rocks sprawling, jerry-built hotel, called The Castle. On the eve of the Civil War the Castle owners son returns home with a secret that is about to be revealed. Priscilla, a writer seeking peace and quiet in a secluded Egg Rock cottage during World War II, gets swept up by the war in a way she could never anticipate. Mayland, a TV weatherman, and his wife barely survive a devastating fire, the work of an arsonist with a hundred-year grudge. In Forty Steps and Other Stories the reader discovers a unique place that leaves its imprint, for better or for worse, on all who call it home.




Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea


Book Description

“Family secrets and a transportive Italian setting keep the reader thoroughly immersed, making for a satisfying story of one woman’s coming-of-age.” —Publishers Weekly Nestled into the cliffs in southern Italy’s Amalfi coast, Positano is an artist’s vision, with rows of brightly hued houses perched above the sea and picturesque staircases meandering up and down the hillside. Santina, still a striking woman despite old age and the illness that saps her last strength, is spending her final days at her home, Villa San Vito. The magnificent eighteenth-century palazzo is very different from the tiny house in which she grew up. And as she decides its fate, she must confront the choices that led her here so long ago . . . In 1949, Positano is as yet undiscovered by tourists, a beautiful, secluded village shaking off the dust of war. Hoping to escape poverty, young Santina takes domestic work in London, ultimately becoming a housekeeper to a distinguished British major and his creative, impulsive wife, Adeline. When they move to Positano, Santina returns with them, raising their daughter as Adeline’s mental health declines. With each passing year, Santina becomes more deeply enmeshed within the family, trying to navigate her complicated feelings for a man who is much more than an employer—while hiding secrets that could shatter the only home she knows . . . “Pick up this book to be swept away like a frothy Mediterranean wave, with its melodic writing style that’s richly filled with beautiful imagery in a setting so sunny and beautiful you will be transported!” —Beachcombing Magazine




Tell Me How It Ends


Book Description

"Part treatise, part memoir, part call to action, Tell Me How It Ends inspires not through a stiff stance of authority, but with the curiosity and humility Luiselli has long since established." —Annalia Luna, Brazos Bookstore "Valeria Luiselli's extended essay on her volunteer work translating for child immigrants confronts with compassion and honesty the problem of the North American refugee crisis. It's a rare thing: a book everyone should read." —Stephen Sparks, Point Reyes Books "Tell Me How It Ends evokes empathy as it educates. It is a vital contribution to the body of post-Trump work being published in early 2017." —Katharine Solheim, Unabridged Books "While this essay is brilliant for exactly what it depicts, it helps open larger questions, which we're ever more on the precipice of now, of where all of this will go, how all of this might end. Is this a story, or is this beyond a story? Valeria Luiselli is one of those brave and eloquent enough to help us see." —Rick Simonson, Elliott Bay Book Company "Appealing to the language of the United States' fraught immigration policy, Luiselli exposes the cracks in this foundation. Herself an immigrant, she highlights the human cost of its brokenness, as well as the hope that it (rather than walls) might be rebuilt." —Brad Johnson, Diesel Bookstore "The bureaucratic labyrinth of immigration, the dangers of searching for a better life, all of this and more is contained in this brief and profound work. Tell Me How It Ends is not just relevant, it's essential." —Mark Haber, Brazos Bookstore "Humane yet often horrifying, Tell Me How It Ends offers a compelling, intimate look at a continuing crisis—and its ongoing cost in an age of increasing urgency." —Jeremy Garber, Powell's Books




Confessions of a Forty-Something


Book Description

Now a major TV series. Read the hilarious rom-com that inspired the hit sitcom Not Dead Yet starring Gina Rogriguez. As recommended on Davina McCall's Making the Cut podcast, and perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Ruth Jones and Marian Keyes. 'The new Bridget Jones' – Celia Walden, Telegraph 'Funny but layered . . . this is a perfect and inspiring new year read' – Red A novel for any woman who wonders how the hell she got here, and why life isn't quite how she imagined it was going to be. And who is desperately trying to figure it all out when everyone around them is making gluten-free brownies. Meet Nell. Her life is a mess. In a world of perfect Instagram lives, she feels like a disaster. But when she starts a secret podcast and forms an unlikely friendship with Cricket, an eighty-something widow, things begin to change. Because Nell is determined. This time next year things will be very different. But first, she has a confession . . . Confessions of a Forty-Something by Alexandra Potter will make you laugh, and it might even make you cry. Above all, it will remind you that you're not on your own – we're all in this together. 'Brilliant! Laughing out loud' – Emma Gannon, podcaster (Ctrl Alt Delete) and author of Olive 'Say hello to a book that will have you laughing with every page, whether you're 20, 40 or 80' – Heat




Sum


Book Description

At once funny, wistful and unsettling, Sum is a dazzling exploration of unexpected afterlives—each presented as a vignette that offers a stunning lens through which to see ourselves in the here and now. In one afterlife, you may find that God is the size of a microbe and unaware of your existence. In another version, you work as a background character in other people’s dreams. Or you may find that God is a married couple, or that the universe is running backward, or that you are forced to live out your afterlife with annoying versions of who you could have been. With a probing imagination and deep understanding of the human condition, acclaimed neuroscientist David Eagleman offers wonderfully imagined tales that shine a brilliant light on the here and now.




Walking With God: Forty Steps of Faith and Fellowship


Book Description

Welcome to a journey through the depths of Christian discipleship. This book is designed for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith and to live out its principles more fully. Whether you are new to the faith or have been walking with the Lord for years, the pages of this book aim to guide, challenge, and inspire you in your spiritual journey. The Purpose of This Book The Christian life is rich and multifaceted, encompassing private devotion, community involvement, moral challenges, and spiritual warfare. It requires wisdom, strength, and courage that can only come from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. This book aims to provide you with the biblical insights and practical tools needed to navigate the complexities of living as a faithful Christian in today's world. Each chapter of this book tackles an essential aspect of Christian living, from foundational practices like prayer and Bible study to more complex issues like handling conflict, overcoming sin, and engaging with the world in a God-honoring way. The goal is not merely to inform but to transform—encouraging you to apply what you learn in real and meaningful ways. What to Expect This book is divided into forty chapters, each focusing on a different topic crucial for Christian growth and maturity. These include: Deepening Your Prayer Life: Learn how to cultivate a vibrant prayer life that connects you deeply with God. Understanding and Applying Scripture: Gain tools for interpreting and applying the Bible in ways that shape your thinking and actions. Living Out the Fruit of the Spirit: Explore how to manifest love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your daily interactions. Navigating Trials and Suffering: Discover biblical strategies for enduring hardships with grace and hope. The Christian’s Role in Society: Consider how to effectively engage in social issues and be a light in the world. Each chapter includes scriptural insights, practical advice, and questions for reflection or discussion, making this book suitable for both personal study and group settings. How to Use This Book To get the most out of this book, approach it with an open heart and a willing spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your reading and reflection. You may choose to progress through the chapters sequentially or focus on specific sections that address your immediate needs. For those in leadership, teaching, or small group settings, this book can serve as a comprehensive resource for guiding others in their faith journey. The topics covered are ideal for developing sermon series, Bible study materials, or discussion groups. A Prayer for Your Journey As you embark on this exploration of Christian living, may you be enriched and empowered by the truths of Scripture. May you grow in wisdom, strengthen in faith, and overflow with love for God and others. Above all, may your walk with Christ be ever more intimate, your life ever more aligned with His will, and your heart ever more attuned to the leading of His Spirit. Let us begin this journey together, walking in faith, and growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.




Forty Steps Closer to God


Book Description

Read about the wise ways of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). "Forty Steps Closer to God" is a must-read for all Muslim teenagers. It contains a careful selection of forty hadith that present the mode of life of the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who God chose to be the perfect example for humankind. The selected forty hadith were chosen to provide both examples of Prophet Muhammad's (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) relationship with God as well as his relationship with his fellow beings. Adopting the habits demonstrated in these forty hadith would not only bring one closer to God but would also lead to more peaceful societies.Written for high-school and college-aged students, covering a variety of interesting and essential topics, with clear and concise explanations on each hadith, and study questions to further the reader's knowledge, this pocket guide would be ideal for a book club or religious study group.




Four Thousand Weeks


Book Description

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Provocative and appealing . . . well worth your extremely limited time." —Barbara Spindel, The Wall Street Journal The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks. Nobody needs telling there isn’t enough time. We’re obsessed with our lengthening to-do lists, our overfilled inboxes, work-life balance, and the ceaseless battle against distraction; and we’re deluged with advice on becoming more productive and efficient, and “life hacks” to optimize our days. But such techniques often end up making things worse. The sense of anxious hurry grows more intense, and still the most meaningful parts of life seem to lie just beyond the horizon. Still, we rarely make the connection between our daily struggles with time and the ultimate time management problem: the challenge of how best to use our four thousand weeks. Drawing on the insights of both ancient and contemporary philosophers, psychologists, and spiritual teachers, Oliver Burkeman delivers an entertaining, humorous, practical, and ultimately profound guide to time and time management. Rejecting the futile modern fixation on “getting everything done,” Four Thousand Weeks introduces readers to tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude, showing how many of the unhelpful ways we’ve come to think about time aren’t inescapable, unchanging truths, but choices we’ve made as individuals and as a society—and that we could do things differently.




Make Miracles in Forty Days


Book Description

We've all had situations in our lives that seem beyond our control or that have no clear remedy. In this concise, inspirational guide, bestselling self-help guru Melody Beattie shows us that we have the ability to make a miracle for almost any circumstance we're facing. She offers a distillation of what she knows about gratitude, surrender, and connecting with our essential power. She challenges us to be more present each day and details a six-week action plan, the Miracle Exercise, to jump-start transformation in our lives.--From publisher description.




Letters and Speeches


Book Description




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