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A Yorkshire Boyhood
by Roy HattersleyIt was not until he was dead and I was forty that I realised my father was once in Holy Orders,' Roy Hattersley tells us in the opening pages of A YORKSHIRE BOYHOOD; so setting the tone for an elegant, continually surprising book.A somewhat precocious only child, Roy grew up surrounded by protective, ever-anxious adults, equally determined to expose him to books and to shield him from germs -- second-hand books were decontaminated by a sharp session in the oven. Uncle Ernest, a timber merchant's clerk celebrated for his skill at 'fretwork and the manipulation of Indian clubs'; a ten-year feud with the next-door neighbours; unwavering devotion to Sheffield Wednesday - all the pleasures and pangs of northern working-class childhood are magnificently evoked as Roy Hattersley takes us through the hardships of the Thirties and the Blitz; and into the 1940s, the 11-plus examination and Grammar School.Completely updated, A YORKSHIRE BOYHOOD is an autobiographical essay of unusual wit, eloquence and candour.
A Yorkshire Boyhood
by Roy HattersleyIt was not until he was dead and I was forty that I realised my father was once in Holy Orders,' Roy Hattersley tells us in the opening pages of A YORKSHIRE BOYHOOD; so setting the tone for an elegant, continually surprising book.A somewhat precocious only child, Roy grew up surrounded by protective, ever-anxious adults, equally determined to expose him to books and to shield him from germs -- second-hand books were decontaminated by a sharp session in the oven. Uncle Ernest, a timber merchant's clerk celebrated for his skill at 'fretwork and the manipulation of Indian clubs'; a ten-year feud with the next-door neighbours; unwavering devotion to Sheffield Wednesday - all the pleasures and pangs of northern working-class childhood are magnificently evoked as Roy Hattersley takes us through the hardships of the Thirties and the Blitz; and into the 1940s, the 11-plus examination and Grammar School.Completely updated, A YORKSHIRE BOYHOOD is an autobiographical essay of unusual wit, eloquence and candour.
A Yorkshire Lass at the Court of Thatcher
by Elizabeth PeacockElizabeth Peacock served as MP for Batley and Spen for 14 years and was one of the most outspoken politicians during her time at Westminster.Famed for her 'no nonsense, just common sense' approach, Elizabeth won many admirers along with a reputation for being difficult. Not afraid to vote against her own party, the Conservatives, Elizabeth genuinely said and did what she thought was right for all Britain, but especially her local constituents.At the time she became an MP, she was one of very few women to do so but quickly made her mark in a very male dominated environment. She was the first woman MP to take part in the Lords v Commons charity motor race at Brands Hatch in which she more than held her own. Elizabeth was heavily involved in the Miners Strike of the 80's and was one of the few to vote against her own government as well as meeting regularly with Arthur Scargill, an unthinkable thing to do for a Conservative MP. She would go on to vote against the Major government too, never to be difficult, but just because she thought their actions weren't in the best interest of the nation. Her outspoken views on the IRA would lead to an unsuccessful but extremely frightening attack on her car whilst parked outside her home.In this candid, honest and often very funny autobiography, Elizabeth reveals what it was like to work at Westminster during those turbulent years. She offers frank assessments of the men and women she worked with including Margaret Thatcher, John Major and many others.A completely absorbing and insightful read.
A Young Hero with a Big Heart: The Story of Ana Dodson (Fountas & Pinnell LLI Gold #Level P)
by Barbara FiermanA Young Hero with a Big Heart: The Story of Ana Dodson
A Young Man's Passage
by Julian ClaryThis is Julian Clary's story, in his own words - the tale of an awkward schoolboy who became a huge worldwide success on stage and screen.After a sheltered suburban upbringing, Julian was sent to St Benedict's, where beatings from 'holy' men gave him some brutal life lessons, and other 'unholy' boys his first awakenings of sexuality. He had just one true friend and ally, Nick - to his other school peers, Julian's aloof demeanour made him an enigma or simply a figure of ridicule. In school he was just another pained adolescent, but inside Julian was a new Jean Genet or Quentin Crisp bursting to get out.Leaving St Benedict's thankfully behind him, Julian went on to college where he found his true vocation as an entertainer with a peculiar comic brand of smut and glamour. At the same time, he was finding as much sex as he could, sometimes with remarkably less-than-glamorous characters.Periods in community theatre and the singing telegram industry followed before Julian hit the big time with cabaret co-star Fanny the Wonder Dog as The Joan Collins Fan Club. Soon, the world was his oyster. But fame came at a price, as Julian struggled not only with the reality of being a high-profile gay man in the 1980s but also the pain of losing his lover to terminal illness.Far more than just another celebrity autobiography or 'funny book', this is a touching, beautifully written and wryly witty account of a unique progression from shy child to comedy icon.
A Young Palestinian's Diary, 1941-1945: The Life of Sami 'Amr (Jamal and Rania Daniel Series in Contemporary History, Politics, Culture, and Religion of the Levant)
by Kimberly KatzWriting in his late teens and early twenties, Sāmī 'Amr gave his diary an apt subtitle: The Battle of Life, encapsulating both the political climate of Palestine in the waning years of the British Mandate as well as the contrasting joys and troubles of family life. Now translated from the Arabic, Sāmī's diary represents a rare artifact of turbulent change in the Middle East.<P><P>Written over four years, these ruminations of a young man from Hebron brim with revelations about daily life against a backdrop of tremendous transition. Describing the public and the private, the modern and the traditional, Sāmī muses on relationships, his station in life, and other universal experiences while sharing numerous details about a pivotal moment in Palestine's modern history. Making these never-before-published reflections available in translation, Kimberly Katz also provides illuminating context for Sāmī's words, laying out biographical details of Sāmī, who kept his diary private for close to sixty years. One of a limited number of Palestinian diaries available to English-language readers, the diary of Sāmī 'Amr bridges significant chasms in our understanding of Middle Eastern, and particularly Palestinian, history.
A Young Palestinian's Diary, 1941–1945: The Life of Sami 'Amr (Jamal and Rania Daniel Series in Contemporary History, Politics, Culture, and Religion of the Levant)
by Kimberly KatzWriting in his late teens and early twenties, S\am\i cAmr gave his diary an apt subtitle: The Battle of Life, encapsulating both the political climate of Palestine in the waning years of the British Mandate as well as the contrasting joys and troubles of family life. Now translated from the Arabic, S\am\i’s diary represents a rare artifact of turbulent change in the Middle East. Written over four years, these ruminations of a young man from Hebron brim with revelations about daily life against a backdrop of tremendous transition. Describing the public and the private, the modern and the traditional, S\am\i muses on relationships, his station in life, and other universal experiences while sharing numerous details about a pivotal moment in Palestine’s modern history. Making these never-before-published reflections available in translation, Kimberly Katz also provides illuminating context for S\am\i’s words, laying out biographical details of S\am\i, who kept his diary private for close to sixty years. One of a limited number of Palestinian diaries available to English-language readers, the diary of S\am\i cAmr bridges significant chasms in our understanding of Middle Eastern, and particularly Palestinian, history.
A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy
by Jim MurphyIn the summer of 1776, Joseph Plumb Martin was a fifteen-year-old Connecticut farm boy who considered himself "as warm a patriot as the best of them." He enlisted that July and stayed in the revolutionary army until hostilities ended in 1783. Martin fought under Washington, Lafayette, and Steuben. He took part in major battles in New York, Monmouth, and Yorktown. He wintered at Valley Forge and then at Morristown, considered even more severe. He wrote of his war years in a memoir that brings the American Revolution alive with telling details, drama, and a country boy's humor. Jim Murphy lets Joseph Plumb Martin speak for himself throughout the text, weaving in historical back fround details wherever necessary, giving voice to a teenager who was an eyewitness to the fight that set America free from the British Empire.
A Young Woman on Her Own: from A Woman in Charge
by Carl BernsteinA Vintage Shorts Selection From the definitive, humanizing biography of one of the most powerful and widely misunderstood women of our time: Hillary Rodham Clinton. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Carl Bernstein sheds light on Hillary's political development during her four years as an impressionable but fierce undergraduate at Wellesley. In thick, Coke-bottle glasses, here is an ambitious young student--galvanized by the assassination of Martin Luther King and the women's liberation movement--fighting to be recognized by the East coast elite. Bernstein reveals a side of Hillary not often seen in a tender, heartening, and measured depiction of her even-keeled transformation from a Barry Goldwater conservative raised in a staunchly anti-communist household in Illinois into an "agnostic intellectual liberal" and an impassioned progressive dedicated to peaceful and pragmatic reform. An ebook short.
A Youthful Diary: One Man's Journey From The Beginning Of Faith To Worldwide Leadership And Peace
by Daisaku IkedaOne man's journey from the beginning of faith to worldwide leadership for peace. Excepts from Ikeda Diary 1949-1960. Ikeda is the third president of a global peace movement called Soka Gokkai International.
A Zionist among Palestinians (Encounters: Explorations in Folklore and Ethnomusicology)
by Hillel Bardin&“A testimony to the effort to bring about change, to educate Palestinians and Israelis about one another, and to touch them one at a time.&”—Jewish Book Council A Zionist Among Palestinians offers the perspective of an ordinary Israeli citizen who became concerned about the Israeli military&’s treatment of Palestinians and was moved to work for peace. Hillel Bardin, a confirmed Zionist, was a reservist in the Israeli army during the first intifada when he met Palestinians arrested by his unit. He learned that they supported peace with Israel and the then-taboo proposal for a two-state solution, and that they understood the intifada as a struggle to achieve these goals. Bardin began to organize dialogues between Arabs and Israelis in West Bank villages, towns, and refugee camps. In 1988, he was jailed for meeting with Palestinians while on active duty in Ramallah. Over the next two decades, he participated in a variety of peace organizations and actions, from arranging for Israelis to visit Palestinian communities and homes, to the joint jogging group &“Runners for Peace,&” to marches, political organizing, and demonstrations supporting peace, security, and freedom. In this very personal account, Bardin tries to come to grips with the conflict in a way that takes account of both Israeli-Zionist and Palestinian aims. &“A rare first-hand account of dialogue and joint-action efforts on the ground between Israelis and Palestinians [and] brings to light unknown grassroots episodes that illustrate both the hopeful potential for coexistence and the huge obstacles that continue to plague these well-intentioned efforts.&”—Neil Caplan, author of The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories &“Enlightening and moving.&”—Howard M. Sachar, author of A History of Israel
A Zoo in My Luggage: A Zoo In My Luggage, The Whispering Land, And Menagerie Manor (The Zoo Memoirs #1)
by Gerald DurrellA British naturalist and his wife acquire a menagerie of animals and set up their own zoo in this delightful memoir by the author of the Corfu Trilogy.For many years I had wanted to start a zoo. . . . Any reasonable person smitten with an ambition of this sort would have secured the zoo first and obtained the animals afterwards. But throughout my life I have rarely if ever achieved what I wanted by tackling it in a logical fashion. After a decade of supplying creatures for other people&’s zoos, in 1957 Gerald Durrell and his wife set off on an adventurous journey to the Cameroons in West Africa, where they collected numerous mammals, birds, and reptiles. The wild nature of the animals created quite a bit of chaos, but the Durrells&’ problems really began when they attempted to return to Britain with their exotic new friends. Not only did they have to get them safely home, they also had to find somewhere able and—more importantly—willing to house them. Told with wit and a zest for all things furry and feathered, Durrell&’s A Zoo in My Luggage is a brilliant account of how a pioneer of wildlife preservation came to found a new type of zoo. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Gerald Durrell including rare photos from the author&’s estate.
A brillar, mi amor: Mitología no autorizada de Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota
by Jorge BoimvaserLa historia de la banda y de los músicos de Patricio Rey y susredonditos de ricota contada por un especialista y fanático en unaedición ampliada. «El sueño del hombre es un mito individual. El mito es un sueñocolectivo». Joseph CampbellSin publicidad, solo con el recurso del boca a boca, las nuevas camadasde seguidores ya comienzan desde niños a escuchar a los Redondos y aadoptar las frases de los temas como dogmas. Chicos que escucharon desdeel vientre materno a Los Redondos hoy piden ir con sus padres a lasmisas paganas del Indio Solari y Skay. «A brillar, mi amor» se hatransformado en un libro de culto. Boimvaser es uno de los más antiguosseguidores del grupo, conoce el fenómeno ricotero porque es parte de él.Esta es una nueva edición ampliada, donde el autor rescata lareligiosidad del fuego sagrado (el que nunca se apaga) y tamiza elrelato jugando con una suerte de psicoanálisis mitológico aplicado areflejar la historia de la banda y de sus solistas.
A de Grummond Primer: Highlights of the Children's Literature Collection
by Carolyn J. Brown, Ellen Hunter Ruffin, and Eric L. TribunellaContributions by Ann Mulloy Ashmore, Rudine Sims Bishop, Ruth B. Bottigheimer, Jennifer Brannock, Carolyn J. Brown, Ramona Caponegro, Lorinda Cohoon, Carol Edmonston, Paige Gray, Laura Hakala, Andrew Haley, Wm John Hare, Dee Jones, Allison G. Kaplan, Megan Norcia, Nathalie op de Beeck, Amy Pattee, Deborah Pope, Ellen Hunter Ruffin, Anita Silvey, Danielle Bishop Stoulig, Roger Sutton, Deborah D. Taylor, Eric L. Tribunella, Alexandra Valint, and Laura E. Wasowicz During the 1960s, a dedicated library science professor named Lena de Grummond initiated a letter-writing campaign to children’s authors and illustrators requesting original manuscripts and artwork to share with her students. Now named after de Grummond, this archive at the University of Southern Mississippi has grown into one of the largest collections of historical and contemporary youth literature in North America with original contributions from more than 1,400 authors and illustrators, as well as over 185,000 volumes. The first book-length project on the collection, A de Grummond Primer: Highlights of the Children's Literature Collection provides a history of de Grummond’s work and an introduction to major topics in the field of children’s literature. With more than ninety full-color images, it highlights particular strengths of the archive, including extensive holdings of fairy tales, series books, nineteenth-century periodicals, Golden Age illustrated books, Mississippi and southern children’s literature, nonfiction, African American children’s literature, contemporary children’s and young adult authors and illustrators, and more. The book includes contributions from literature and information science scholars, historians, librarians, and archivists—all noted experts on children’s literature—and points to the exciting research possibilities of the archive.De Grummond could not have realized when she wrote to luminaries like H. A. and Margret Rey, Berta and Elmer Hader, Madeleine L’Engle, J. R. R. Tolkien, Lois Lenski, Garth Williams, and others that their correspondence and contributions would form the foundation for this extraordinary trove now visited by scholars from around the world. Such major authors and illustrators as Ezra Jack Keats, Richard Peck, Rosemary Wells, Angela Johnson, and John Green continued to donate content. In addition, curators, past and present, have acquired both historical and contemporary volumes of literature and criticism.
A donde nos lleven los caminos: 45 años del dúo Larbanois & Carrero
by Martín DuarteUna biografía exhaustiva que recorre los 45 años del dúo. Cuando Eduardo Larbanois vio por primera vez a Mario Carrero desconfió de él. Por su apariencia —llevaba un traje color habano, bigotes cortos y el pelo engominado— pensó que se trataba de un tira, un agente encubierto de la dictadura. Fue en un festival de folclore en Paysandú, en 1973. Después, los entretelones del espectáculo y el regreso en ómnibus a Montevideo, en el que, por casualidad, compartieron asiento, permitieron que los músicos conversaran en profundidad, reconocieran en el otro la misma sensibilidad artística, social, política, y entablaran una amistad que los impulsó a construir un camino musical juntos. Ese encuentro imprevisto es el primero de muchos hitos en la historia del dúo Larbanois & Carrero, emblema de la música popular uruguaya. En este libro, el periodista y músico Martín Duarte presenta una biografía exhaustiva que recorre los 45 años del dúo, desde la formación oficial en 1977 hasta la actualidad. El recorrido retrata episodios fundamentales de las infancias de Carrero y Larbanois, sus inicios artísticos, sus primeros recitales, sus peripecias en giras nacionales e internacionales, sus militancias políticas y sus intercambios con otros artistas como Alfredo Zitarrosa, Washington Benavides, Rubén Lena, Vera Sienra, Pepe Guerra, León Gieco y Emiliano Brancciari, entre tantos otros que dejaron huella en el repertorio del dúo.
A família que foi à guerra
by Gordon Smith Leandro Mabillot"A família que foi à guerra" é um retrocesso aos prematuros anos de 1900, durante o período de guerra. A história segue seis membros de uma família australiana enquanto decidem ir à guerra e lutá-la por diferentes razões. O livro reconta seus altos e baixos, lutas e triunfos. É, ao mesmo tempo, inspirador e desolador o que essas pessoas deixaram para trás (famílias e filhos) e quais as dificuldades encararam durante suas jornadas. A história encobre suas jornadas pela guerra na Europa e explora algumas de suas complexas características e resume a vida dos três que retornaram. Também realça a angústia da mãe o qual filho foi perdido nos campos de batalha de Fromelles e cujo corpo ainda não foi identificado cem anos depois. Seis membros da família foram à guerra. Apenas três retornaram!
A fin de cuentas: Nuevo cuaderno de la vejez
by Aurelio ArtetaAurelio Arteta rescata la vejez del enjambre de prejuicios que suelen desfigurarla. «Solo desde el crepúsculo se adquiere una visión del día completo.» La vejez nos convierte en testigos privilegiados de la vida, por ser la posición idónea, afirma Aurelio Arteta, desde la que evaluar las demás edades. En A fin de cuentas, entabla con el lector una conversación a la que también están invitados Montaigne, Spinoza, Schopenhauer, Leopardi, Saint-Exupéry, De Beauvoir y Canetti, entre otros, al tiempo que rescata la vejez del enjambre de prejuicios que suelen desfigurarla. Este «diario disfrazado» compuesto de sabias meditaciones, citas memorables, recuerdos, escenas de la vida y retratos, puede leerse como un sutil tratado filosófico en fragmentos que nos invita a mirarnos bien adentro y a despojarnos de toda afectación y de la trivialidad en la que tendemos a hundirnos. Con ingenio, serenidad e ironía, capta las contrariedades, la dureza, los reveses, pero también las delicias y el humor de la vejez. Lo que brilla a través de estas páginas al tiempo graves y luminosas es un profundo amor a la vida, el rechazo de la muerte -también su acogida- y la enérgica juventud que caracteriza a algunos mayores. También, la nostalgia que tanta lucidez conlleva. La crítica ha dicho...«Uno diría que, de no ser por ese angustioso telón de fondo, en la sociedad actual la vejez ofrece razonables placeres y alegrías bien pautadas, dentro del plazo limitado.»Carlos García Gual, sobre A pesar de los pesares
A for Anonymous: How a Mysterious Hacker Collective Transformed the World
by David KushnerThe illustrated, inside story of the legendary hacktivist group's origins and most daring exploits.A for Anonymous shows how a leaderless band of volunteers successfully used hacktivism to fight for the underdog, embarrass their rich and powerful targets--from Sony and Paypal to the Church of Scientology and Ferguson Police Department--all in the name of freedom of speech and information. Their exploits blurred the distinction between "online" and "reality," and help shape our contemporary world.
A força das mulheres: Como a resiliência feminina me ensinou a acreditar num mundo melhor
by Dr. Denis MukwegeDo Prémio Nobel da Paz e ativista dos direitos humanos, um testemunho transformador da força e resiliência das mulheres. A história de uma vida dedicada às mulheres e ao fim da violência sexual pela mão do médico ginecologista e obstetra Denis Mukwege. Do Nobel da Paz e reconhecido ginecologista e ativista pelos direitos humanos doutor Denis Mukwege, chega-nos um vigoroso apelo para lutarmos coletivamente contra o flagelo da violência sexual e aprendermos com o exemplo de resiliência e força das mulheres. Aquele a quem chamam «o homem que cura as mulheres», o ginecologista e cirurgião Denis Mukwege consagrou a sua vida às mulheres vítimas de violência sexual na República Democrática do Congo. Num lugar onde a violação é considerada uma arma de guerra, Mukwege move montanhas contra a violência mais monstruosa, muitas vezes colocando a própria vida em risco. Escrito na primeirapessoa, A força das mulheres é uma homenagem à coragem e à força daquelas que «carregam dentro de si a humanidade» e um convite à reflexão sobre o mundo que queremos ajudar a construir. Argumentando a importância de dizer «não» à indiferença e analisando as causa para o flagelo da violência sexual que assola o mundo, responsabiliza os governos no seu papel de reconhecer e compensar as vítimas e apela a que se quebre o tabu em torno da violação, construindo um sistema que apoie as mulheres e as incentive a denunciar a violência de que são alvo. Neste livro, Mukwege defende a urgência da construção de uma sociedade mais equilibrada, que envolva homens e mulheres numa verdadeira mudança de paradigma e na luta que deve ser a de todos, por justiça e por paridade. No centro de O poder das mulheres estão as vozes de todas as mulheres que, apesar do trauma e da violência, persistem e resistem e lutam. No final, a mensagem do prémio Nobel da Paz é clara: todos temos o potencial individual para fazer parte da mudança. «Chamo-lhe a Madre Teresa do Congo»Oprah Daily «Existem heróis de carne e osso - como o Denis Mukwege.»Michaela Coel «Chamo-lhe a Madre Teresa do Congo»Oprah Daily «O livro a que todos devíamos prestar atenção neste momento. As vozes das mulheres do Congo ecoam neste testemunho comovente do Dr. Mukwege sobre as causas e consequências da violência sexual.»Emma Watson, atriz e ativista «Existem heróis de carne e osso - como o Denis Mukwege.»Michaela Coel «Um testemunho importante e profundamente comovente sobre valor incalculável da dedicação de um homem ao trabalho humanitário.»Kirkus, starred review «Um registo vital do sofrimento e da resiliência das mulheres congolesas e uma exortação poderosa pelo fim da cultura da violação.»Publishers Weekly
A is for Activist
by Innosanto NagaraOne of NPR's Top 100 Book for Young Readers &“Reading it is almost like reading Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, but for two-year olds—full of pictures and rhymes and a little cat to find on every page that will delight the curious toddler and parents alike.&”—Occupy Wall StreetA is for Activist is an ABC board book written and illustrated for the next generation of progressives: families who want their kids to grow up in a space that is unapologetic about activism, environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and everything else that activists believe in and fight for. The alliteration, rhyming, and vibrant illustrations make the book exciting for children, while the issues it brings up resonate with their parents' values of community, equality, and justice. This engaging little book carries huge messages as it inspires hope for the future, and calls children to action while teaching them a love for books.
A la caza de la mujer
by James EllroyJames Ellroy, el legendario autor de novela policiaca, nos ofrece unas memorias crudas y brutalmente sinceras. En 1959 James Ellroy tenía diez años. Un día, después de hacerle un regalo, su madre, Jean Hilliker, que acababa de divorciarse de su marido, le dio a elegir entre vivir con ella o con su padre. James eligió a su padre sin dudarlo y Jean zanjó el asunto con una bofetada. Desde el suelo, James deseó que se muriera y tres meses después fue asesinada. En torno a este hecho, James Ellroy reconstruye su infancia desestructurada, los delitos de su época adolescente y la temporada que pasó en la cárcel, su vida como escritor, su avidez sexual, sus matrimonios fallidos y la crisis nerviosa que tuvo cuando conoció a una mujer extraordinaria que podría haber sido Ella. Superponiendo épocas y lugares, momentos cargados de emoción e instantes llenos de clarividencia, Ellroy narra la historia de su vida con el pulso narrativo desus mejores novelas. La crítica ha dicho... «El último libro de James Ellroy es también el más íntimo y personal. Es convincente e implacable en sus revelaciones. Sus frases hacen que te sientas agradecido de leer su prosa, cargada de esa furia, pasión y energía maravillosas.»San Francisco Chronicle «Quizá las memorias más confesionales que he leído nunca.»Dallas Morning News
A los que vienen: Democracia, desigualdad, justicia, educación, ecología, sexualidad, felicidad explicadas a los jóvenes
by Manuela CarmenaEl primer testimonio escrito de Manuela Carmena después de ser alcaldesa de Madrid. Sus palabras más personales e inspiradoras dirigidas a las generaciones venideras y a la sociedad en general. Un libro para ti, que eres joven. Para ti, porque puedes cambiar las cosas. Manuela Carmena, exalcaldesa de Madrid y jueza durante más de 30 años, es mujer, de izquierdas, progresista, feminista, ecologista, demócrata, patriota (si la patria lo es en positivo), agnóstica, madre y abuela, entre otras muchas cosas. Pero ante todo es una ciudadana, una persona como cualquier otra que ha demostrado que se puede hacer política de otra manera, que los pequeños gestos y hechos importan, que nuestros intereses, los de la gente, pueden ser llevados a las instituciones, defendidos y puestos en valor. Que, en definitiva, el pueblo puede y tiene que ser escuchado. En este libro Manuela quiere recoger los principales temas y preocupaciones que ya ha puesto de relevancia en su alcaldía y que ahora quiere compartir de otra manera, desde la vida civil, con las nuevas generaciones que vienen con fuerza y que quizás puedan necesitar algunas cariñosas y valiosas palabras de una de las más queridas figuras públicas que nos han gobernado en las últimas décadas. Gracias, Manuela.
A lucky person has only to be born
by Robert K. BurnsThe potato famine forced his ancestors to leave the “Ould Sod” and to plant roots in Askeaton, Wisconsin. Eighty years later and in the year of Ireland’s Independence, the author, Robert K. Burns, was born in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, on November 10, 1922. He was the second-born of the eventual six-child family of his railroading father and loving mother, born Florence Campbell of Hilbert, Wisconsin. The world welcomed this delightfully “Irish” free-spirit during an era of peace and close family relationships and at a time when the phrase “For God and Country” was a way of life and family entertainment was the primary source of social pleasure. Bob’s wit, insight, and innate wisdom, helped him accept and enjoy God’s simplest or most complex creations and creatures. His love, compassion, and understanding made him a joy to his family, his friends, and later in his profession as a dentist to his patients. As a result of the Great Depression the railroad failed. Bob’s father took the family back to a small farm in Askeaton, Wisconsin, the locale of many of the events he recalls in his book from 1933 even to this day, for his new Irish cottage is located within a mile of the old farmhouse. Troubles for most Americans during the thirties were numerous and varied. Bob’s eternal optimism, however, enabled him to help himself and his family soar over them. He was finding silver linings, roses, and rainbows long before it became fashionable for many to even look for them. He was and still is a happy Catholic whose faith, hope and love are constantly tested and challenged. “Being born” to him was synonymous with good luck and God’s blessings. Perceiving humor in mettle-testing obstacles that God cast into his pathway he reacted with witty mainspring resilience and mature good-natured responses. Even in the hemophiliac conditions of his three sons he was able to find enough humor to give strength to his wife, Ginny, his family and himself. God’s designs were his construction blueprints for a life that had to be lived to be enjoyed. Although he is aware of the imperfections of man and that man-made plans often go awry, he never forgets that God created smiles for good purpose. His forte is his ability to induce smiling in others. My greatest pleasure in encouraging Bob to publish his prose and poetry will be the first smile he evokes from you, the reader. Then I will know that I have not misjudged the purpose behind the humble wit and wisdom of my life-long companion and wholly unselfish buddy. May you and the author react favorably to one another. May Heaven’s door be open to both of ye and may God save ye kindly. —Daniel J. Burns, Jr.
A luz que nos ilumina: Superar tempos de incerteza
by Michelle ObamaDepois do sucesso de vendas e da crítica Becoming - a minha história, a ex-primeira-dama Michelle Obama regressa com um novo e inspirador livro onde partilha conhecimentos práticos e estratégias eficazes para mantermos a esperança e o ânimo apesar da enorme incerteza do mundo atual. Não há soluções fáceis nem respostas diretas para os grandes desafios da vida, mas Michelle Obama acredita que todos podemos desenvolver estratégias em que possamos apoiar-nos para navegar um mundo em mudança sem nos entregarmos à deriva. A luz que nos ilumina enceta um diálogo franco e honesto com os seus leitores acerca de um conjunto de problemas com que muitos nos debatemos: Como podemos construir relações sinceras? Como descobrir a força e a união nas nossas diferenças? Que ferramentas podemos usar para mitigar os nossos medos e incertezas? O que fazer quando tudo começa a tornar-se de mais? Michelle Obama oferece aos seus leitores uma série de reflexões e histórias inéditas sobre mudanças, desafios e poder, incluindo a sua convicção de que, quando nos iluminamos para o nosso semelhante, potenciamos a prosperidade do mundo à nossa volta., desvendando sentidos mais profundas e novos caminhos em direção ao progresso. Baseando-se na sua experiência quanto mãe, filha, esposa, amiga e primeira-dama, partilha os hábitos e princípios que lhe permitiram adaptar-se à mudança e superar inúmeros obstáculos - a mesma sabedoria que continua a ajudá-la a construir a história. Descreve as suas preciosas técnicas, como "ser gentil", "aspirar ao topo" e preparar uma "mesa de refeições" composta por amigos sinceros e mentores. Com o humor, a honestidade e compaixão que lhe são característicos, explora ainda questões relacionadas com a raça, o género e a visibilidade, encorajando o leitor a ir além do medo, a encontrar forças na sua comunidade e a viver sem medo. Quando aprendemos a reconhecer a nossa própria luz, temos a capacidade de a usar" escreve Michelle Obama. A Luz que nos ilumina inspira os leitores a refletirem sobre as suas vidas, a identificarem aquilo que lhes traz alegria e a encontrarem um sentido maior num mundo conturbado.
A mis mejores amigos no los he visto nunca: Cartas y ensayos selectos
by Raymond ChandlerUn viaje excepcional al mundo de Chandler, marcado por la genialidad, el alcoholismo, la soledad y la visión crítica de la industria del cine. Una lectura fundamental para los fans del género. A mis mejores amigos no los he visto nunca recoge una amplísima selección de la correspondencia y la obra periodística de Raymond Chandler, y constituye como tal un volumen inédito. Aquí se desvelan sus reflexiones literarias, que se caracterizan por un gran sentido del humor, los secretos de su personalidad siempre al borde del abismo, su intuición artística, su curiosidad intelectual y su tormentosa relación con Hollywood. La primera parte del libro es una antología de sus cartas a amigos, editores, agentes y colegas que se lee como una fascinante biografía. La segunda parte consiste en una decena de artículos escritos para la prensa -varios nunca antes traducidos- , que retratan su cambiante visión del mundo a lo largo de los años. Reseña:La obra de Chandler me parece tan imprescindible literariamente como pueda serlo la de Hemingway o Scott Fitzgerald.»Manuel Vázquez Montalbán