6/27/2023 0 Comments A gentleman in moscow review![]() ![]() ![]() Set against the tumultuous (and terrifying) political climate of 20th-century Russia: dictators, diplomats, and spies all waltz through the ever-revolving doors of the Metropol. He is threatened with execution should he ever step foot out of the hotel. He is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat and sentenced to life imprisonment in the luxury Metropol hotel in Moscow by the Bolsheviks who swept into power after the Russian revolution. ![]() It’s the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov “member of the Jockey Club, Master of the Hunt”. Ostensibly a book about a man who lives in a hotel it is so much more than that. One of the very best books I’ve read in the last few years, ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ exceeded all my expectations. In light of the current situation we all find ourselves living in, I don’t think there’s a better book I could feature for the site’s first book review. ![]()
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![]() Her daughter Brianna is trying to protect her son from a vicious criminal with murder on his mind, while her husband Roger has disappeared into the past. And while Claire is terrified that one of her husbands may be about to murder the other, in the 20th century her descendants face even more desperate turns of events. ![]() ![]() Read more is no less shocked to discover that his real father is actually the newly resurrected Jamie Fraser, and Jamie's nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for the woman who has just agreed to marry him. ![]() Lord John's son, the ninth Earl of Ellesmere. Her former husband, Jamie, has returned from the dead, demanding to know why in his absence she married his best friend, Lord John Grey. Outlander Series in Order (13 Books) Book Descriptions for series: Outlander Outlander // Cross Stitch Jun-1991 Book - 1 In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon - when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. But for Claire Fraser and her family, there are even more tumultuous revolutions that have to be accommodated. The British Army is withdrawing from Philadelphia, with George Washington in pursuit, and for the first time, it looks as if the rebels might actually win. It is June 1778, and the world seems to be turning upside-down. The eighth epic volume in the multimillion-copy bestselling Outlander series. The latest epic volume in the multimillion-copy bestselling Outlander series. ![]() Description for written in my own heart's blood: an outlander novel Paperback. ![]() 6/26/2023 0 Comments Runaways 1 by Brian K. Vaughan![]() In Vaughan's original pitch for the series, Karolina Dean was originally called Leslie. The imprint was unsuccessful, and "Pride & Joy" (and the series Runaways that continued it) was one of the very few series from that imprint to continue being published and to do well in sales. ![]() "Pride & Joy" was launched in 2003 as a part of Marvel's Tsunami imprint, the goal of which was to attract new readers, particularly young readers and the manga audience. Vaughan's tenure on the series ran from April 2003 to 2007. Runaways has subsequently won several comics awards, including the 2006 Harvey Award for Best Continuing or Limited Series. While it was initially intended to be a six-part miniseries, the popularity of "Pride & Joy" and new ideas from writer Vaughan allowed it to grow into a regular monthly Marvel title, Runaways. Runaways is frequently praised for being a simple story while being set in the typically complex and twisting Marvel Universe. Rainbow Rowell currently runs the series. Series creator Vaughan wrote the entire first volume and most of the second, which was continued and ended by Joss Whedon. ![]() Runaways has frequently been collected in digest-sized books, which led to booming sales. It has covered 13 story arcs, and is currently in its fourteenth. ![]() Vaughan and Adrian Alphona for Marvel Comics. Runaways is an American comic book series created by Brian K. ![]() ![]() They are like a light, white-yellowish colour on the inside and after being baked or sautéed are incredibly soft and creamy on the inside. ![]() We known them as sweet potatoes, but they are also known as Japanese Sweet Potatoes. You see, I’m from Jamaica! Our local sweet potatoes are very different from those found in the US. Since then it’s been even more fun keeping up with all the exciting updates in her life, including most recently – her adorable bouncing baby girl! I know Jenné is being kept super busy now thanks to her new beautiful blessing, so I wanted to share a guest post here on Sweet Potato Soul! Naturally my very first thought was to do something with sweet potatoes, but with a twist! Hi everyone! My name is Jessica and I’m a vegan food blogger, photographer and videographer over at at Jessica in the Kitchen! I’ve been online friends with Jenné for about 2 years now and we finally met in person at her cookbook launch dinner last year while I was in California. And it’s made with Japanese sweet potatoes, my current favorites! I’m back from maternity leave, so expect new recipes from me in the coming month. In the meantime follow me on Instagram see what I’m eating and new-mom life updates This sweet potato breakfast hash is delicious, easy to make, and nutritious. She makes amazing vegan recipes in her kitchen in Jamaica. ![]() I’m excited to share this guest post from Jessica Hylton of the blog Jessica In The Kitchen. ![]() 6/26/2023 0 Comments Art and fear by david bayles![]() ![]() Overall, this is a gem that belongs on the bookshelf of every artist, whether s/he is already established or just beginning his/her career. Only a small portion of it is good, and by working more, you learn to do more of that kind of work. They insist that the majority of work that most artists do is actually not that good. You'll discover who you are as a person and as an artist by actually doing the work. If you're dedicated and you pursue the art with all that you have, it will give you the answers you're looking for. However, Bayles and Orland believe that it's the process of making art which holds all the answers. ![]() ![]() Often, the fear gets to be too much, and the artist stops making art altogether. Artists are afraid of many things-of being misunderstood, of producing bad work, of not being worth much as human beings or as artists. So the artistry that went into the book contrasts with its ultimate message which is very pragmatic.īayles and Orland, the two authors, go into the issues that artists face when producing artwork, the major one being fear. It's obvious that many hours were spent revising this book until it reached this polished final phase. However, the prose is beautifully composed, almost poetic in its sense of flow. Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking is one of those books that exemplifies the saying, "brevity is the soul of wit." In print, the book is a scant 130 pages while, as an audiobook, it can be devoured in three hours. ![]() 6/26/2023 0 Comments Murakami men without women![]() ![]() Murakami writes with admirable discipline, producing ten pages a day, after which he runs ten kilometres (he began long-distance running in 1982 and has participated in numerous marathons and races), works on translations, and then reads, listens to records and cooks. His books became bestsellers, were translated into many languages, including English, and the door was thrown wide open to Murakami’s unique and addictive fictional universe. More followed, including A Wild Sheep Chase and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, but it was Norwegian Wood, published in 1987, which turned Murakami from a writer into a phenomenon. That first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, won a new writers’ award and was published the following year. One April day, the impulse to write a novel came to him suddenly while watching a baseball game. In 1978, Haruki Murakami was twenty-nine and running a jazz bar in downtown Tokyo. ![]() 6/26/2023 0 Comments Sellout by Dan Ozzi![]() ![]() And I'm not trying to play to the audience, but it's actually scientifically proven that you'll make more money on an independent label if you're a not-so-great punk band like us. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Yeah, this song is called "Scathing Indictment Of The Pop Industry." And this song is about not signing to a major label. It was a place for passionate fans and committed to bands just like Jawbreaker, who would say stuff like this in the middle of their set. Green Day used to play there until they got banned for signing to a major label. It was committed to non-commercial do-it-yourself ethics. LIMBONG: Gilman was meant for outsiders who didn't fit in at punk shows at the usual bars. ![]() ![]() UNIDENTIFIED SINGER: (Singing, unintelligible). He spoke with NPR's Andrew Limbong about a moment starting in the mid-'90s that had major labels scouring local punk scenes looking for the next Nirvana.ĪNDREW LIMBONG, BYLINE: It's 1993, and the band Jawbreaker is playing at a Bay Area venue called 924 Gilman. But if you're the kind of band that earned its cred giving the finger to corporate suits, how do you navigate shaking their hand for your shot at rock stardom? Well, that's the question at the center of the new book "Sellout" from music writer Dan Ozzi. For as long as there's been a mainstream culture, there have been artists pushing back against it. ![]() 6/25/2023 0 Comments Sold by zana muhsen![]() ![]() Neither of them has seen Nadia since 1992 and they have not spoken to her since 1996, but they insist that she is abused by her husband's family, that she limps and is badly scarred, that she is brainwashed and has "blank, staring eyes". Miriam Ali also wrote her own heartbreaking version of events, Without Mercy. Last year, she continued the saga in A Promise to Nadia - the true story of a British slave. On her return, Zana wrote bitterly of her ordeal in the book Sold, which became an international bestseller. ![]() ![]() When the day came, Zana got on the plane - but Nadia vanished back into the mountains. By now, Zana had one child and Nadia two. But there was a catch: they couldn't take their children. Six months later, in April 1988, bureaucratic wheels turned and Nadia and Zana were given permission by Yemen to return to the UK. The resulting articles, portraying Nadia and Zana as slaves in a cruel and primitive culture, provoked a public outcry in Britain and humiliated the government of Yemen. In 1987, a journalist from the Observer visited the girls in their remote villages. But, of course, it was only the beginning. ![]() 6/25/2023 0 Comments Ante Up by Kim Fielding![]() ![]() But the Shadows want Peter too, and they’re willing to kill to get him. His existence feels empty and meaningless until he meets beautiful Peter Gehrardi, who can influence others with his thoughts.Īn attraction flares instantly, bringing a semblance of life to Ante’s dead heart. Now he haunts Las Vegas, stealing blood and money from drunken gamblers and staying on the fringe of the powerful vampire organization known as the Shadows. Pre-Order Links: DSP eBook || DSP Paperbackīlurb: A century and a half ago, Ante Novak died on a Croatian battlefield-and rose three days later as a vampire. ![]() ![]() Welcome to the Exclusive Cover Reveal for author Kim Fielding’s Ante Up, coming soon from Dreamspinner Press and the Dreamspun Beyond house line. ![]() 6/25/2023 0 Comments Neil gaiman milk![]() ![]() I borrowed this book from Solihull Libraries. This is an entertaining story and the combination of Gaiman and Riddell makes for a very enjoyable read. I liked how the opening illustration in chapter one cleverly foreshadows the rest of the book. The Galactic Police (dinosaurs Tricera Cop and Judge Rexx) made me giggle too. Pale and interesting Edvard is a humorous reference to the Twilight series. ![]() He retells stories like the binding of Fenrir and the theft of Thor’s hammer with funny and very human renditions of Thor, his father Odin, and trickster Loki among other gods. miss this gloriously entertaining novel about time-travel, dinosaurs, milk and dads. by Neil Gaiman illustrated by Chris Riddell. From multi-award-winning Neil Gaiman comes a spectacularly silly. I love how the dad looks like Neil Gaiman. Using 21st-century knowledge and his very imaginative mind, Neil Gaiman provides a new spin on several stories and characters from ancient Norse mythology. Gaiman has tried to write the only book anyone will need, ever, packing into it. ![]() Children will love its huge cast of characters, the humour and the whirlwind of adventure that Dad gets swept up in.Ĭhris Riddell is one of my favourite illustrators and his illustrations in Fortunately, the milk… are fabulous – full of life and wit. One of vampires, pirates, dinosaurs and aliens, time travel and a one-eyed volcano god.įortunately, the milk… is packed full of excitement. ![]() Except that he’s gone ages and when he returns he has an unbelievable tale to tell. They run out of milk so Dad nips out to the corner shop to get some. Mom is away at a conference and Dad is left in charge of the children. ![]() |