The novel Divine Days by Leon Forrest, reissued after three decades, is over a thousand pages that elicit from the reader every emotion from awe to exasperation.
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/05/23/a-long-tongue-saga-divine-days-leon-forrest/
It was there since the beginning: the white rope, eye splice uniting us between two bodies we were sewn together tethered by a single fratricidal heart one tree we split in two I dreamed rebellion (to pare the pair of us) our parallel lives a double-barreled shotgun I had to free myself from you me […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/05/23/self-portrait-of-the-us-as-conjoined-twins-ansel-elkins/
New supertall skyscrapers planned for Manhattan will reduce the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building to the scale of souvenir tchotchkes. With the current glut of unoccupied office space, they may be the last of their kind.
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2024/05/23/supersize-that-supertall-billionaires-row/
“How do I capture what happened—and what moved me—during a performance that most of my readers will never have a chance to see?”
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/05/04/dancing-on-the-page-erica-getto/
What kind of place is the Internet? A few years ago, an essay called “The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet,” by Yancey Strickler, one of the founders of Kickstarter, started getting passed around online. In it, he observed that as the publicly accessible Internet gets more hostile, besieged by “the ads, the tracking, the […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2024/05/04/more-real-than-life-i-saw-the-tv-glow/
Blessed Are the Peacemakers follows an outlaw turned preacher who heads to a gold camp in Alaska to start a church. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In 1972, our family moved to Alaska to do missionary work. One day in Church, I realized one of the Beatitudes, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’, would be a great title for a Western. I wrote it down in my journal. Finally, last year in 2023, I sat down and started writing it.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
In all the Western movies I’ve seen while growing up, the town preachers turned out to be either a Caspar Milquetoast or a bad guy. Someone who was timid and didn’t believe in deadly force to protect his family or the town, or someone who was out to take all they could get. The scriptures say a man who doesn’t provide for his own is worse than an infidel. That includes protection. Why can’t a preacher who is good with a gun be a good guy?
What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a thrilling period piece?
I have always been interested in the history of the Old West and the Mountain Man era. I grew up in Fairbanks Alaska, an old gold rush town turned modern. I became interested in Fairbanks’s history.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
More exploits of Coy Tucker, in Blessed Are the Peacemakers. Hopefully out by the summer of 2004.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
Bob Duelin and his rag-tag gang of thieves and cut-throats have other plans, and Coy must walk through hell on earth.
Will the preacher outlive the haunting memories of his past? And more importantly, survive long enough to establish the church that God has called him to do?
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/05/04/the-old-west/
Thaddeus and the Master follows three Brother Apprentices who have arrived at the College of Sorcerers only to face new challenges and tribulations set upon them by both the senior students and the Faculty. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Back in the 70s, I used to drive to Chicago from Milwaukee for certain post-graduate studies I was attending in the Windy City. On those drives, I began to entertain the fantasy of what it would be like to attend a Sorcerer’s school – what sort of trouble would the students get into, what sort of pranks would they attempt, and what measures would the faculty – with centuries of this sort of behavioral experience under their belts – employ.
The concept gradually evolved over time to more of a full-fledged story and the details filled themselves in.
In a lot of contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
Yes, especially in several of the characters who I ‘borrowed’ from various high school friends. I found it easier to take a person I already knew about in a way and modify them to fit the story as opposed to inventing an entire personality on the spot. Just being lazy, I suppose.
In fantasy novels, it’s easy to get carried away by the magical powers of characters. How did you balance the use of supernatural powers?
In this series, our Sorcerers are limited by the fact that each and every time they use their powers – even in the learning process – their life spans are reduced by a random, variable, and unknowable amount. One could cause a teacup to appear on Monday and lose 13 minutes of life span. On Tuesday of the same week, the same act could cost a Sorcerer 2 years of life span. The fact that it is certain but unpredictable causes a great deal of parsimony in the use of Sorcery in this world.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Thaddeus and the direction of the third book?
In Thaddeus and the Daemon, the evil plot of the corrupted Master Sorcerer and his Daemon accomplice is at last uncovered. Our Hero then goes to confront the pair knowing that he, a first-year only student, is sadly out-classed in power in facing the twain. Grasping at straws he begins to entertain the counter-intuitive idea that if he surrenders all of his Sorcerous powers he will, somehow, achieve the advantage over his antagonists. The results of this desperate move are eye-opening.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
The three Brother Apprentices have arrived at the College of Sorcerers only to face new challenges and tribulations set upon them by both the senior students and the Faculty.
Hindering their advancement at College are a collection of obstacles including a half-mad Centaur, a Green Goblin, the last living Father of Man, drug-seeking Sprites, sentient warrior statues, the Guardian of the Temple of Time, murderous attacks by Excelsior-Class brigands, Graecolian Slavers, the uncloaked evil of a twisted Master Sorcerer and the Pale Horse of Death.
. Can Thaddeus truly trust the mysterious Prince from far-distant Mauretesia?
. Can Thaddeus and his three friends solve the riddle of what lies behind the mirrors?
. Can Rolland prove how the College’s cook can claim to have fathered the leader of Fountaindale’s Thieve’s Guild?
. Can the Daemon’s challenge to Thaddeus be answered by his brother Apprentices?
. Can the ancient Lay of Man unravel the fate of the Father of Man?
. Can the four friends alter the dread fate prophesied by the Pale Horse?
In Louis Sauvain’s epic fantasy Book One, Thaddeus of Beewicke, the tortuous and danger-laden journey to the Sorcerer’s school is at last completed. In Book Two, Thaddeus and the Master, the young Apprentices at the College of Sorcerers learn first-hand the life-threatening risks of spell-casting, hand-to-hand combat and confrontation with hostile upperclassmen, disdainful Faculty and the deadly presence of the school’s Daemon.
Sauvain’s strength prevails creating a page-turner of strong and vigorous cast of characters.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/05/04/certain-but-unpredictable/
The Unvarnished Truth: Purpose in the Pain shares your story of surviving abuse and how you were able to finally find peace and healing. Why was it an important book for you to write?
I wrote this book because I strongly believe that it is a story that many persons can relate to. It’s an exploration of a life filled with trauma and emotional turmoil. There are many lessons to be learnt. I share my struggles, my moments of despair, and the darkness that led to two desperate suicide attempts. But more importantly, I reveal how I found the strength within to move forward and ultimately discover peace through forgiveness and acceptance of my situation as it is.
I recognize that every twist and turn, every triumph and setback, has made me into the person I am today. This book is not just a recounting of events; it’s an exploration of the human experience, a testament to resilience in the face of adversity.
I am hoping that this book shows that our individual journeys are pieces of a larger, intricate plan, woven together by shared experiences, emotions, and the quest for meaning and PURPOSE.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to remove the stigma in regard to Mental health and to show that even the well-to-do and the educated can suffer. May persons suffer in silence. There is always hope.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
Show gratitude. I have learnt that appreciating what one has rather than focusing on what one lacks, is the key to peace of mind, and acceptance. I have learnt to let go of the things I cannot change.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
There are many things but perhaps the key takeaway is that one should never give up on life, no matter the circumstances. Hold on tightly to faith and love and cherish the persons who love and care for you.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/05/04/a-testament-to-resilience/
In Strategies for a Better Life, Rose Parker Johnson offers readers a comprehensive roadmap toward achieving personal financial success. Focusing on cultivating the right mindset and implementing strategic approaches, Johnson delves into various facets of wealth accumulation, from identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs to exploring income enhancement strategies and real estate investments.
This book serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to improve their financial standing, whether through personal finance management, professional networking, or gaining a deeper understanding of economic principles. Johnson adeptly navigates through diverse topics, providing concise yet thorough insights that empower readers to make informed decisions in their pursuit of financial growth. Through relatable examples featuring hypothetical characters like John and Jane, Johnson contextualizes key concepts, offering practical applications for readers to integrate into their own lives. These characters serve as guides, illustrating the transformative power of mindset shifts and strategic planning in achieving financial abundance.
Its structured format, punctuated with well-arranged chapters and insightful anecdotes, facilitates a seamless learning experience for readers at every stage of their financial journey. Even seasoned experts in personal finance stand to benefit from Johnson’s meticulous approach and thoughtful guidance. The book’s wealth of information and actionable advice make it a timeless resource worth revisiting regularly to reinforce positive financial habits and sustain long-term growth.
Strategies for a Better Life offers more than just financial advice; it’s a blueprint for holistic wealth creation. By embracing Johnson’s principles and leveraging the wisdom within these pages, readers can chart a course toward a more prosperous and fulfilling future.
Pages: 149 | ASIN : B0CW1N3KY4
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/05/04/strategies-for-a-better-life-a-journey-to-financial-empowerment/
In White Lies Matter Too, author John A. O’Connor presents a compelling exploration of American history, interweaving conceptual art with well-researched narratives. Each section of the book is structured around a series of plates that delve into varied aspects of American historical narratives, illuminating marginalized perspectives and critiquing entrenched national myths. Through his analysis of presidential legacies and the global ramifications of recent events, O’Connor challenges readers to reassess their grasp of historical realities.
Utilizing a combination of visual symbolism, engaging storytelling, and academic thoroughness, O’Connor crafts a narrative that scrutinizes accepted truths and advocates for a deeper, more layered understanding of history. His critical approach to sources and distrust of official narratives enhances the book’s identity as both an art piece and a scholarly work. O’Connor reflects on the transformative power of art and history, encouraging readers to question dominant narratives and adopt a more critical view of past events.
White Lies Matter Too asserts itself as a notable addition to both contemporary art and historical analysis, posing a compelling challenge to the oversimplifications prevalent in mainstream historical portrayals. O’Connor’s methodical research and analytical perspective utilize visual and narrative elements to provoke thought and broaden the reader’s historical insight. The book’s detailed citations underscore its scholarly merit, inviting readers to critically evaluate the information presented by traditional sources.
This work serves as a vital catalyst for reflection and discussion, enriching readers’ understanding of American history and prompting them to scrutinize the stories that shape their views of the world. White Lies Matter Too is indispensable for those intrigued by the convergence of culture, politics, and history.
Pages: 158 | ASIN : B0D25DK59C
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/05/04/white-lies-matter-too/