But what begins as sexual fascination quickly becomes love and in time a consuming passion. He is young and palely beautiful and Donatello is at once taken with him. And it is a time, finally, when art and politics and religion collide in a single, unique historical moment.Īgnolo Mattei, a street boy and sometime prostitute, enters Donatello’s bottega and offers to pose in exchange for money. It is a time when, for a few years, three popes reign simultaneously. It is also a time of wealthy and powerful families: the Medici, the Albizzi, the Pazzi, the Strozzi, the Sforza, and the Visconti. It is a time of great, ground- breaking artists: della Quercia, Brunelleesci, Ghiberti, Fra Anngelico, Uccello della Robbia, Masaccio, and Donatello. The Medici Boy begins in the early 1400s. The prize-winning author of A Woman Run Mad, The Shrine at Altamira and The Miracle returns with his long awaited The Medici Boy, a stunning recreation of early Renaissance Florence and a masterful portrait of the complex, contradictory, and captivating sculptor Donatello.
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All of these wonderful toys are provided by her army colonel father, an incredibly charming character whose bond with Kane becomes the most moving element of this tale. Que cape and cowl, plenty of gadgets and a secret bunker under her house. The military’s altogether stupid and embarrassing policy regarding “homosexual conduct” ended her career but opened the way for her to find a new one. Suffering through standard issue superhero childhood trauma (with a twist), Kate Kane hoped to find fulfillment in the army and came close with a sterling career at West Point. Only tangentially connected to the Batman mythos, Kate Kane’s story holds in tension all the themes of identity, trauma and vengeance that are at the dark heart of the Dark Knight narrative. The reinvention of the modern Batwoman has been a major achievement. (Rather ironic, given her current incarnation, don’t you think?) Her character, Kathy Kane, was meant to be a romantic interest for Batman and to counter claims by early ’50s comic book critics that Batman and Robin’s relationship had homoerotic overtones. Not many superheroes get headlines in the mainstream press like “The red-headed lesbian is unleashed at last” or “Holy Lipstick Lesbian!” DC comics’ new incarnation of Batwoman has garnered both praise as a compelling character and wholly predictable criticism from homophobic culture warriors.īatwoman first appeared in Detective Comics #233 in 1954. It’s hard to accuse “The Everything Store” of being overly simplistic, perhaps because Bezos defies easy description. Bezos - who eventually encouraged friends, family and executives to talk to Stone, but didn’t himself cooperate - asked the author how he was going to deal with the concept of “narrative fallacy.” He was talking about Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s contention in his book “The Black Swan,” which is required reading for all Amazon senior executives, that humans use narrative to turn “complex realities into soothing but oversimplified stories.” Stone recounts how he pitched Bezos on the idea of a book. That’s an overstatement - but the meticulously reported book has plenty of gems for anyone who cares about Amazon, Jeff Bezos, entrepreneurship, leadership or just the lunacy it took to build a company in less than two decades that now employs almost 90,000 people and sold $61 billion worth of, well, almost everything last year.įrom moment one, Bezos, who named his company after the river that “blows all other rivers away,” had what Stone calls a “limitless spring of new ideas,” and Amazon has already seen boom, bust and boom - as well as both fawning adulation and deep skepticism. “Explosive.” That’s how the cover of Bloomberg BusinessWeek bills “ The Everything Store” by journalist Brad Stone. She includes fantasizing about her family being more well-off, and able to afford ice cream or not have to worry about her father finding a new job. I think that her “flying” is symbolic for her determination to do anything she wants to in life and not let anyone step in her way. Going off this, she flies over to the Union Building and gives it to him. The family is multiracial, and she mentions how her dad doesn’t get promoted because of his ethnicity. I believe that her flying represents her capability to do anything she sets her mind to. I think the most important part of this book is understanding the symbol of her flying. Since the author both wrote and illustrated the text, it is clear that her intended meaning is portrayed through both modes. This book tells a touching story of what imagination can do for a family, and the power of love. She flies all over town, doing things for her family, and including her brother. She flies to the George Washington Bridge and admires it and wears it as a necklace. She flies to the Union Building, claiming it as her own so that her father can join the union. Tar Beach is about a girl who imagines she can fly. Chorley, mightily dissatisfied with the disorder, insolence, purposelessness and sheer unpleasantness of modern times, intends to do-something evidently this involves vampires, a Saxon sword that could pinch-hit for Excalibur, the theft of bulky post-Roman artifacts such as bricks, a huge magical bell, some sort of bloody sacrifice (Chorley’s minions have been practicing on goats), and the malevolent, insane spirit known as Mr. Here, narrator Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, along with his partner, DS Guleed, a swordsman-in-training, and their wizardly boss, DCI Nightingale, must track down the Faceless Man II, now unmasked as Martin Chorley, an evil wizard with a plan. They’re usually female and have supernatural powers. Yes indeed, folks, London has more than one river-most of the others (like the Walbrook, Fleet, and Tyburn) have long been confined belowground in brick tunnels. Seventh in the detective/supernatural urban fantasy series ( The Hanging Tree, 2016, etc.) in which many of the characters are embodiments of London’s rivers-so that history literally comes alive. It appears on the soundtrack titled "Roads".ġ980: The Return of the King (1980 film): A song inspired by the poem is sung at the end of the film called " Roads Go Ever, Ever On".ġ981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series): Bilbo sings the song as he leaves Bag End. Portrayal in adaptations ġ977: The Hobbit (1977 film): Sections of the poem are sung during the trip through Mirkwood. One of the most surprising aspects of being published, Ira states, is the “absolute professionalism of Tyndale House.” He is especially grateful to his editor, Carol Traver, who was able to keep Ira’s writing voice intact, while offering edits that made his story stronger. Ira acknowledges that “having the right people around me, helped me be published.” He feels he received his gift of writing from his father, who was a contributing writer to the Amish magazine, Family Life, but he feels his sensitive heart comes from his mother. He later went to law school and earned his law degree. He earned a degree in English, but his inspiration for writing comes from reading classic books from authors such as Thomas Wolf. Ira is no stranger to literature and writing. One thing led to another, and he was offered a contract. Over the course of time, his writings were noticed by a friend which led to a meeting with an editor at Tyndale House Publishers. In a recent phone interview with me, Ira shared he was compelled to write about his growing up years as an Amish young man when his “world imploded” in 2007. The result, his book: Growing Up Amish: A Memoir. He always knew he had a desire and ability to write his personal story, but even he was happily surprised with how his book came to be published. Ira Wagler, like many former Amish, had a story to tell about his journey with his heritage. It is set in a post-apocalyptic and neo-Western version of the disestablished United States in the then near-future year of 2013, sixteen-plus years after unspecified apocalyptic events, followed by plagues, left a huge impact on human civilization and erased most technology. The film also features Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo, and Tom Petty. The screenplay was written by Eric Roth and Brian Helgeland, based on David Brin's 1985 book of the same name. The Postman is a 1997 American post-apocalyptic action adventure film produced and directed by Kevin Costner, who plays the lead role. These remarkable pieces serve as a powerful and necessary reminder that we can, and should, stake out a space in our lives for delight. So what are you waiting for? Order your copy of "CRETE TRAVEL GUIDE 2023" today and get ready to experience the magic of this enchanting island. The Book of Delights is about our shared bonds, and the rewards that come from a life closely observed. With its engaging writing style and stunning photography, "CRETE TRAVEL GUIDE 2023" will transport you to the heart of Crete and inspire you to plan your next adventure. (Photo: Courtesy of Ross Gay) For a year, poet Ross Gay took a moment almost every day to write about something that delighted him. Whether you're a foodie, a wine enthusiast, or simply looking to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the island, this guide has got you covered. The Book of Delights is the first nonfiction book from poet Ross Gay, who dedicated a year to writing daily essays about the things that delight him. Discover the hidden gems of Crete's culinary scene, with insider tips on the best traditional dishes to try and where to find them.īut that's not all - "CRETE TRAVEL GUIDE 2023" also delves into the island's wine regions, with expert recommendations on the best wineries to visit and the most delectable wines to taste. From the best times to visit the island to where to stay and what to bring, this guide covers it all.Įxplore the rich history and culture of the island, from the ancient ruins of Knossos to the stunning beaches of Elafonisi. This comprehensive guide is packed with everything you need to know to make the most out of your visit to Crete. Discover the beauty of Crete with the ultimate guide to the island's culinary delights and wine regions - the "CRETE TRAVEL GUIDE 2023." Narrowing down to a favourite or even top five is near impossible.įavourite book: Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, Arrival by Charlotte McConaghy and Dark Swan series by Richelle Meadįavourite films: Perks of Being a Wallflower, Edge of 17, Love Actually, Breakfast Club, Set It Upįavourite shows: Friends! Anything Joss Whedon! (Ah it’s too hard!! So many amazing shows?)įavourite song: (current) False Confidence – Noahįavourite bands: Halsey!! Queen, Michael Jackson, American Rejectsįavourite subject in school: Drama, English and Film As long as I am always writing and travelling, I am satisfied on this planet. I’ve published two books and have countless stories waiting to be written. Tell us about yourself: My name is Danica and I write the stories my mind creates, because if I don’t put them on paper I may go insane. Read on for our interview with Danica and follow the links to find her books and social media. Her first series, Battles of Azriel, follows a cast of rebel queens and their struggles to reclaim their thrones in a dangerous parallel realm, and her upcoming works walk exciting lines between fantasy adventure and paranormal romance. Like her books, she brings an infectious level of fun and surprise to what can otherwise become a serious business. Now in the middle of 2019, we’d like to take a day to celebrate the Ouroborus Books family’s middle child – not one of the first, and not one of the new kids, YA fantasy author Danica Peck is the generous, colourful and personable heart of our little press. |