In The Shadow Of The Banyan


Book Description

A stunning, powerful debut novel set against the backdrop of the Cambodian War, perfect for fans of Chris Cleave and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins with the footsteps of her father returning home in the early dawn hours bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Soon the family's world of carefully guarded royal privilege is swept up in the chaos of revolution and forced exodus. Over the next four years, as she endures the deaths of family members, starvation, and brutal forced labour, Raami clings to the only remaining vestige of childhood - the mythical legends and poems told to her by her father. In a climate of systematic violence where memory is sickness and justification for execution, Raami fights for her improbable survival. Displaying the author's extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyanis testament to the transcendent power of narrative and a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience. 'In the Shadow of the Banyanis one of the most extraordinary and beautiful acts of storytelling I have ever encountered' Chris Cleave, author of The Other Hand 'Ratner is a fearless writer, and the novel explores important themes such as power, the relationship between love and guilt, and class. Most remarkably, it depicts the lives of characters forced to live in extreme circumstances, and investigates how that changes them. To read In the Shadow of the Banyan is to be left with a profound sense of being witness to a tragedy of history' Guardian 'This is an extraordinary debut … as beautiful as it is heartbreaking' Mail on Sunday




Chasing Life


Book Description

Praise for Chasing Life "Cancer and death have a unique way of getting our attention. As a hospice physician, many of my patients used to tell me they became 'alive' only after facing cancer and death ... and some regretted all of the years and decades they spent 'sleep-walking.' Desiree and Rob in this book share what it means to be live fully aware, awake, and alive. If you want to live an abundant life - one that is fully woke - this book will grab, surprise, inspire, break, and renew you because everything you heard before is probably wrong. The abundant life is not about fame, money, and personal success." - James A. Avery, MD, Visiting Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia "Love, we learn is not always about a fairy tale with happy endings. It's a tale of two people who in sharing their deepest vulnerabilities, discover each other and themselves wholeheartedly. In this vivid retelling of his 11 years caring for his wife, Robert challenges the reader to ask themselves essential life questions about how adversity calls on us to rise-up and embrace our fuller humanity. This is a story of love in its most transformative expression." - Mark Stolow, CEO, Huddol Journeys "Chasing Life is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about two amazing individuals, Desiree and Rob, who shared the passion for life through transformative love and angelic compassion in the face of horrendous circumstances. Undaunted in her dedication to care for the suffering, while going through 11 years of her own recurring and worsening cancer, Desiree gave the full energy of her heart and soul to helping people with advanced illness. As a physician, she was an early champion of palliative care, and was able to help so many people through the most difficult times of their lives. All the while, Rob's inspirational, relentless support and devotion were a testament to the meaning of genuine love." - Csaba Mera, MD - built the nation's first healthplan-based palliative care program. "Chasing Life tells the story of two extraordinary people who, together, faced one of life's greatest challenges with grace. Robert Pardi shares his journey with his wife Dr. Desiree Pardi during which he was her warrior while she battled cancer. The lessons that Desiree learned from being both cancer patient and palliative care physician, and the many examples of Robert's path to resilience, are invaluable and should be shared with everyone. As if that isn't enough, this story is about much more; it is about great love. Robert and Desiree lived that love to the end, and by doing so set not only the example but also the bar for all us." - Trish Humenansky-Laub, Founder of Comfort in Their Journey LLC and Author of the Comfort in Their Journey Book Series




Success In The Streets "The Great Save" A Survival Story


Book Description

Travel through the life of an inner-city youth turned small-time gangster, suicide survivor, bipolar alcoholic/addict who survived the mean streets of Kensington, the Philadelphia section made famous by the Rocky movies. This real-life Rocky story shows the "roller-coaster ride" life of George McDermott as he squandered a pro soccer career twice before dealing with the demons of his addictions as well as the haunting memories of his mother's suicide. After returning from New York with a contract




Chasing Freedom


Book Description

Chasing Freedom is a no-holds-barred, tell-it-like-it-is look at the life of a Canadian Military spouse. In it, author Kathleen Mills, who did a “tour of duty” that lasted 38 years, shares the good, the bad, the hard, and the amazing of her journey. The good includes the opportunity to travel and to live in several locations across Canada and in England and the United States. It also includes amazing adventures, such as taking a parachute course for military spouses and getting to meet Princess Diana. The bad includes being in a school parking lot to pick up her kids and getting a call that her husband’s helicopter had been shot down in Iraq, and the hard covers the stress and demands of holding down the home front while her husband did multiple deployments. It also explores the story of what happens after a soldier returns from deployment and what it means for the spouse and other family members. With brutal honesty, grace, and a great deal of humour, Kathleen provides a look at what marrying the military means and raises awareness about Operational Stress Injury (OSI) – the psychological difficulty caused by the prolonged, high-stress fatigue that can be experienced by those in military service and their family members. She also includes some poems that poignantly capture the experience of being married to the army, as well as some self-help tips for anyone who may be struggling. If you are involved in the military or thinking about joining it, or if you find your life has gotten in the way of you being your authentic self, this book is for you.







The Price of Freedom


Book Description

The Price of Freedom: One Man’s Journey of Hope, Sacrifice, and Fortune What would you sacrifice for a chance at freedom? For Agustín Tenreiro Fernández, a young man from the small town of Pontedeume in Galicia, Spain, the answer was everything. "The Price of Freedom: One Man’s Journey of Hope, Sacrifice, and Fortune" is an autobiographical story of survival, endurance, and the relentless pursuit of a better life in 19th-century Cuba. It’s a story that transcends time and geography, resonating with the heart of every reader who has ever dreamed of forging their own destiny. For the modern reader, Agustín’s story is deeply relatable. His journey mirrors the challenges faced by millions of immigrants who have sought new beginnings in foreign lands—an experience shared by many families, whose ancestors left everything behind in search of opportunity. This book is not just about a physical journey across the ocean; it’s about the emotional and personal journey of growth, sacrifice, and ultimately, the hard-won success that comes with it. Agustín's struggle, captured in his own words, reminds us that freedom, both economic and personal, often comes at a high cost. A Journey Fueled by Hope Agustín’s journey begins in the coast of Galicia, where life is simple but harsh. Born into an average family and was orphaned by his father at an early age, Agustín’s future in Spain looks bleak. At just 18, he makes the heart-wrenching decision to leave his beloved homeland and his mother, whom he would never see again, to chase the promise of opportunity in Havana, Cuba. For Agustín, as for so many immigrants, the decision to leave wasn’t just a matter of seeking wealth—it was about survival. His hometown offered no prospects for a young man with ambitions, so he turned his gaze across the ocean, towards the Americas, where fortunes were made and lost every day. This hope for a brighter future, for the freedom to shape his own destiny, propels him forward. As he boards the ship, the waves of the Atlantic carrying him farther from home, the reader feels Agustín’s inner turmoil. The excitement of new opportunities is tempered by the weight of knowing that he may never return to the world he knows. This tension between hope and fear is the heartbeat of the story and a feeling that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever faced uncertainty on the road to a new life. At its heart, "The Price of Freedom: One Man’s Journey of Hope, Sacrifice, and Fortune" is about the pursuit of the American Dream—though Agustín’s journey takes place in Cuba, his story mirrors the experiences of countless immigrants who have come to America seeking a better life. His struggle for economic freedom, his desire to build something greater than what he had in his homeland, and the sacrifices he makes along the way are the same struggles that built America. Agustín’s story is both deeply personal and universally relatable. His hopes, his fears, and his triumphs are those of every man or woman who has ever left home in search of a better future. For the American reader, this book offers a window into the immigrant experience, not just in the 19th century, but in all times. It’s a reminder that the pursuit of freedom—whether economic, personal, or political—requires sacrifices that are often unseen by the outside world. Through Agustín’s diary and the letters he writes, readers will feel the weight of his choices, the pain of his separation from family, and the triumph of his eventual success. His story isn’t just a historical account—it’s a human story, filled with emotion, struggle, and the ultimate satisfaction of achieving something meaningful. A Call to Reflect and Remember "The Price of Freedom" isn’t just a story for history buffs or fans of autobiographical tales. It’s a book that invites readers to reflect on their own journeys, their own sacrifices, and the price they have paid for the freedoms they enjoy today. It’s a reminder that behind every success story is a history of struggle, and that the freedom we often take for granted was won through hard work, perseverance, and sacrifice. If you’ve ever wondered about the sacrifices that were made so that we could live in a world of opportunity, if you’ve ever been moved by stories of personal struggle and triumph, or if you simply enjoy a good story about the power of hope, then "The Price of Freedom: One Man’s Journey of Hope, Sacrifice, and Fortune" is a must-read. It’s a story that will inspire you, move you, and make you think about the true cost of the freedoms we often take for granted.




THE MAIDS OF PARADISE


Book Description

The Maids of Paradise by Robert W. Chambers is a captivating historical fiction novel that immerses readers in a world of mystery, romance, and intrigue. Step into the opulent setting of the French Riviera and witness the secrets that lie beneath the surface of paradise. In this mesmerizing tale, Robert W. Chambers weaves a narrative filled with suspense, forbidden desires, and a cast of captivating characters. Follow the protagonists as they navigate the complexities of love, betrayal, and the hidden dangers that threaten their idyllic existence. The Maids of Paradise transports readers to a bygone era, evoking the glamour and allure of the French Riviera. Robert W. Chambers's evocative prose and meticulous attention to historical detail create a reading experience that will transport you to the heart of a world shrouded in secrets. If you're a fan of atmospheric historical fiction, captivating mysteries, and lush settings, The Maids of Paradise is a must-read. Order your copy today and lose yourself in the alluring world of Robert W. Chambers's masterpiece.




The Book Buyer


Book Description




The Waiting Water


Book Description

The Waiting Water addresses one of the most recurrent and troubling motifs in German Realist literature—death by drowning. Characters find themselves before bodies of water, presented with the familiar realm above the surface and the unobservable, uncanny domain beneath it. With somber regularity, they then disappear into the depths. Alexander Sorenson explores the role that these hidden deaths in water play within a literary movement that set out precisely to reveal universal truths about human life. The poetics of submergence, he argues, revolve around two concepts fundamental to Poetic Realism—order and sacrifice. Focusing on texts by Adalbert Stifter, Gottfried Keller, Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, and Theodor Storm, along with material from earlier and later epochs, The Waiting Water shows that the pervasive symbolism of drowning scenes in German Realism, which typically occur in zones of narrative invisibility on the social periphery, reveals the extent to which realist narrative uses the natural environment to work through deeply embedded and hidden tensions that troubled the social and moral life of the age.




Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists


Book Description

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.