The Simple Touch of Fate


Book Description

This is a fascinating collection of stories revealing compassion, mystery, humor and warmth, written by people from various walks of life as they tell about their personal brush with FATE. A computer engineer experiences the touch of the unknown as he learns that the plane he was scheduled to be on has crashed into the World Trade Center. A father and daughter, trying to escape from war-torn Egypt, lose something very precious, but find it in such an incredible way that they are sure Fate has favored them. A woman from India relates the strange way in which she is given a Genasha God statue that has been blessed by a revered Swami. The stories evoke the texture of life in an elegant yet gentle mosaic that confirms the unseen hand of fate touching all our lives. This book is about all different kinds of Fate. The common thread is that each story raises the question: "Was that just a coincidence-or was it meant to be?" www.theramp.net/auslander.




A Simple Twist of Fate


Book Description

In the touching novel A Simple Twist of Fate: Destiny, David Greene’s life is changed instantly. His brother, Josh, and sister-in-law, Honey, are killed in a terrible car accident. The only survivor is their three-year-old daughter, Ariel, who was saved by being in her child car seat. Ariel becomes David’s ward, his child, his life. David’s lonely existence as a writer is gone forever. He struggles to overcome the grief that he and his niece are suffering. He must also face the day-to-day difficulties of becoming a parent to Ariel, as they both transition to a new life together. The transformation of David to a loving adult and father is painful, moving, but above all, inspirational. He also learns that life isn’t through pitching him curveballs. When David meets Rose, a nurse, they pursue a whirlwind courtship and marry. A Simple Twist of Fate tells how one moment in time can change everything. This story is about fate, karma, life.




Blood in the Tracks


Book Description

The story of the Minneapolis musicians who were unexpectedly summoned to re-record half of the songs on Bob Dylan's most acclaimed album When Bob Dylan recorded Blood on the Tracks in New York in September 1974, it was a great album. But it was not the album now ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the ten best of all time. “When something’s not right, it’s wrong,” as Dylan puts it in “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go”—and something about that original recording led him to a studio in his native Minnesota to re-record five songs, including “Idiot Wind” and “Tangled Up in Blue.” Six Minnesota musicians participated in that two-night recording session at Sound 80, bringing their unique sound to some of Dylan’s best-known songs—only to have their names left off the album and their contribution unacknowledged for more than forty years. This book tells the story of those two nights in Minneapolis, introduces the musicians who gave the album so much of its ultimate form and sound, and describes their decades-long fight for recognition. Blood in the Tracks takes readers behind the scenes with these “mystery” Minnesota musicians: twenty-one-year-old mandolin virtuoso Peter Ostroushko; drummer Bill Berg and bass player Billy Peterson, the house rhythm section at Sound 80; progressive rock keyboardist Gregg Inhofer; guitarist Chris Weber, who owned The Podium guitar shop in Dinkytown; and Kevin Odegard, whose own career as a singer-songwriter had paralleled Dylan’s until he had to take a job as a railroad brakeman to make ends meet. Through in-depth interviews and assiduous research, Paul Metsa and Rick Shefchik trace the twists of fate that brought these musicians together and then set them on different paths in its wake: their musical experiences leading up to the December 1974 recording session, the divergent careers that followed, and the painstaking work required to finally obtain the official credit that they were due. A rare look at the making—or remaking—of an all-time great album, and a long overdue recognition of the musicians who made it happen, Blood in the Tracks brings to life a transformative moment in the history of rock and roll, for the first time in its true context and with its complete cast of players.




Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Menopause


Book Description

This new series from Chicken Soup for the Soul - inspirational stories followed by positive, practical medical advice for caregivers and patients - is the perfect blend of emotional support and vital information about menopause including: • Common Myths • Unknown Facts • Talking with Friends and Family • From Mood Swings to "Mentalpause" • Relieving Symptoms • Spice Up Your Life • The Truth about HRT • Alternative Treatments • Taking Charge of Your Health • The Positive Side of Menopause Chicken Soup for the Soul partners with top doctors to give you the information you need to survive-and the positive inspiration to thrive. Each book features beautifully written stories plus information on diet, lifestyle, diagnosis, procedures, caregiving, emotional issues and alternative therapies from some of the world's foremost experts.




For the Love of Teachers


Book Description

For the Love of Teachers is a tribute to those who possess the remarkable ability to exercise patience and understanding and to offer guidance along an unfamiliar path. The influence these dedicated teachers have is reflected in many of the goals their students set and achieve every day; whether learning to tie their shoes, memorizing multiplication tables, or excelling on the SATs—all basic steps which are vital to their growth and self-esteem. For this reason, among many others, the importance of these positive role models in our children's lives, as well as our own, can't be stressed enough. For the Love of Teachers is the ideal way to express the admiration and appreciation we share for them. The reasons why someone chooses to teach isn't always clear, but what many teachers have in common is the desire to make a difference in the lives of others—a task that can be bittersweet. For the Love of Teachers is filled with inspiring stories that do just that. Some are warm, humorous, and heartfelt, while others illustrate difficult or unexpected situations with the lessons learned along the way. Readers will identify with many of the students who recall that special teacher who challenged them to find their hidden talent, motivated them to push a little harder, or to simply surpass their own expectations. For the Love of Teachers is a special way of saying thanks to all the teachers who've sacrificed their time to better the lives of others.




Dylan


Book Description

Listen to every side: “Gorgeously rendered. . . . a unique spin on the discography.” —Booklist Covering each of Bob Dylan’s thirty-six studio LPs, this book brings rock ‘n’ roll musicians, songwriters, and critics together to sound off about each release, discussing and debating not only Dylan’s extraordinary musical accomplishments but the factors in his life that influenced his musical expressions. Beautifully illustrated with LP art and period photography, as well as performance and candid backstage images, the book also contains liner notes-like details about the recordings and session musicians, and provides context and perspective on Dylan’s career—in a one-of-a-kind retrospective of the life and music of an American legend. Commentators include Questlove of the Roots and the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Rodney Crowell, Jason Isbell, Suzanne Vega, Ric Ocasek of the Cars, Wesley Stace (aka John Wesley Harding), longtime Dylan pal Eric Andersen and Minnesota musicians Tony Glover and Kevin Odegard, both of whom have been in the studio with Dylan. Other well-known voices in Dylan: Disc by Disc include Robert Christgau, Anthony DeCurtis, Alan Light, Joe Levy, Holly George-Warren, Joel Selvin, Jim Fusilli, Geoffrey Himes, Charles R. Cross, and David Browne, among others.




The Politics and Power of Bob Dylan’s Live Performances


Book Description

Ephemeral by nature, the concert setlist is a rich, if underexplored, text for scholarly research. How an artist curates a show is a significant aspect of any concert’s appeal. Through the placement of songs, variations in order, or the omission of material, Bob Dylan’s setlists form a meta-narrative speaking to the power and significance of his music. These essays use the setlists from concerts throughout Dylan’s career to study his approach to his material from the 1960s to the 2020s. These chapters, from various disciplinary perspectives, illustrate how the concert setlist can be used as a source to explore many aspects of Dylan’s public life. Finally, this collection provides a new method to examine other musicians across genres with an interdisciplinary approach to setlists and the selectivity of performance. Unique in its approach and wide-ranging scholarly methodology, this book deepens our understanding of Bob Dylan, the performer.




Little Green


Book Description

Stinson's stunning, redemptive first novel, set in 1976, follows a runaway who ends up working in a strip club and falls for a drug dealer, who spirals into addiction and becomes physically abusive.




The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan


Book Description

A towering figure in American culture and a global twentieth-century icon, Bob Dylan has been at the centre of American life for over forty years. The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan brings fresh insights into the imposing range of Dylan's creative output. The first Part approaches Dylan's output thematically, tracing the evolution of Dylan's writing and his engagement with American popular music, religion, politics, fame, and his work as a songwriter and performer. Essays in Part II analyse his landmark albums to examine the consummate artistry of Dylan's most accomplished studio releases. As a writer Dylan has courageously chronicled and interpreted many of the cultural upheavals in America since World War II. This book will be invaluable both as a guide for students of Dylan and twentieth-century culture, and for his fans, providing a set of new perspectives on a much-loved writer and composer.




Fate's Foe Collection


Book Description

Embark on an Epic Journey with the Fate's Foe Collection: A Trilogy of Adventure, Magic, and Destiny Dive into the enthralling world of Mundial with the Fate's Foe Collection, a captivating three-book series that weaves a tale of courage, magic, and the battle against dark forces. This collection includes "Mathen's Flight," "Destiny's Voice," and "Fate's Forge," each book drawing you deeper into a realm where fate and free will clash in an epic struggle for survival. In "Mathen's Flight," author Marc Van Pelt weaves an enthralling tale of magic, courage, and unexpected kinship. The story follows Mathen Cutter, a seasoned and perceptive Necromian, as he navigates through a labyrinth of dangers and deceptions to protect an orphaned boy named Jas. After a chance encounter with Mathen, young pickpocket Jas finds himself caught in a web of intrigue involving corrupt officials, human trafficking, and a desperate struggle for justice. Mathen's deep-seated sense of honor compels him to dismantle the nefarious operations of the town judge and sheriff, risking his own life in the process. As Mathen and Jas forge an unlikely bond, their journey becomes one of mutual growth and resilience, highlighting themes of redemption and the power of chosen family. Destiney's Voice Jas Cutter, a young boy burdened with a destiny that could reshape or shatter the world, stands at the crossroads of light and darkness. Haunted by cryptic prophecies and pursued by sinister forces, he must navigate a treacherous path where every choice could lead to salvation or destruction. As ancient gods and powerful beings vie for control over his fate, Jas is thrust into a battle that transcends time and reality. In a world where the balance between good and evil hangs by a thread, Jas's journey is fraught with danger, betrayal, and unexpected alliances. With his loyal friends by his side, including the enigmatic elvish woman Alix and the mysterious boy Coleton, Jas must confront his deepest fears and the darkness within himself. Guided by his adoptive father Mathen and the unwavering belief of those he loves, Jas learns that true power lies not in destiny, but in the choices he makes. "Destiney's Voice" is a gripping tale of courage, friendship, and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. As Jas battles slave traders, ancient gods, and his own inner demons, he discovers that the road to greatness requires sacrifice, and that the future of the world rests in his hands. With richly developed characters and a world teeming with magic and mystery, this epic fantasy will captivate readers and leave them eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Jas Cutter's extraordinary journey . "Fates Forge" is an epic fantasy novel set in the richly detailed world of Mundial, where the realms of humans, elves, and other mystical beings collide. The story begins with Jas Cutter, a young boy with hidden magical talents, navigating the bustling marketplace of Valen with his friend Luka. Their playful banter and secret missions soon give way to the serious undertones of an impending war between the Necromian and Elvish kingdoms. The plot quickly escalates as Jas, Luka, and their families prepare for a perilous journey to escape the conflict. Under the guidance of Jas's father, Mathen Cutter, and the watchful eye of their guardian, Tovan, the group faces numerous challenges, including harsh weather conditions, treacherous terrains, and the constant threat of war. Along the way, they form deep bonds and confront their fears, all while striving to build a new life in a safer place.