Author: Michael K. Tourville
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1469175894
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 89
Book Description
A true story of a woman with an extraordinary gift, and a greater purpose not immediately evident.
A Promise to Astrid
Author: Michael K. Tourville
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1469175894
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 89
Book Description
A true story of a woman with an extraordinary gift, and a greater purpose not immediately evident.
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1469175894
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 89
Book Description
A true story of a woman with an extraordinary gift, and a greater purpose not immediately evident.
A Promise to Astrid
Author: Michael K. Tourville
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1469175908
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 114
Book Description
Pacific Book Awards Winner A true story of a woman with an extraordinary gift, and a greater purpose that’s not immediately evident. A car accident leaves a family in a predicament, and triggers a series of remarkable events. When their elderly neighbor Astrid comes into the picture, everything changes. It’s the least of the family’s expectations that her involvement will impact the rest of their lives. Astrid seems to have all the answers and promptly sets her plan into action. With wisdom, intuition, and maybe a little bit of help from above, she makes everything turn out just right. But that was only the beginning.... A very engaging narrative, this surely is one of those inspirational stories that shouldn’t be missed. Emotional, humorous, and a little bit mysterious, it’s a short story well worth reading. Some things you just can’t explain. There are bigger things at work, beyond our understanding. Accept them with trust, and be grateful. And have faith that good things will happen. Authors Note: Ten percent of the author’s profits will be donated between Autism Speaks, and the Westover Pantry to benefit the families of the military reservists stationed at the Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1469175908
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 114
Book Description
Pacific Book Awards Winner A true story of a woman with an extraordinary gift, and a greater purpose that’s not immediately evident. A car accident leaves a family in a predicament, and triggers a series of remarkable events. When their elderly neighbor Astrid comes into the picture, everything changes. It’s the least of the family’s expectations that her involvement will impact the rest of their lives. Astrid seems to have all the answers and promptly sets her plan into action. With wisdom, intuition, and maybe a little bit of help from above, she makes everything turn out just right. But that was only the beginning.... A very engaging narrative, this surely is one of those inspirational stories that shouldn’t be missed. Emotional, humorous, and a little bit mysterious, it’s a short story well worth reading. Some things you just can’t explain. There are bigger things at work, beyond our understanding. Accept them with trust, and be grateful. And have faith that good things will happen. Authors Note: Ten percent of the author’s profits will be donated between Autism Speaks, and the Westover Pantry to benefit the families of the military reservists stationed at the Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
The Insanity of God
Author: Nik Ripken
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
ISBN: 1433673088
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 360
Book Description
An amazing story of a missionary couple's journey into the toughest places on earth is combined with stories about remarkable people of faith they encountered to challenge and inspire those curious about the sufficiency of God.
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
ISBN: 1433673088
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 360
Book Description
An amazing story of a missionary couple's journey into the toughest places on earth is combined with stories about remarkable people of faith they encountered to challenge and inspire those curious about the sufficiency of God.
A Promise to Astrid - A True Story: Official Motion Picture Edition
Author: Michael K. Tourville
Publisher: Burning Bulb Publishing
ISBN: 9781948278140
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 202
Book Description
"A sweet tale of loss and an elderly neighbor's unexpected generosity. This story harkens back to a bygone time in America when young and old banded together and community was all." -John Elder Robison, New York Times Best Selling Author of Look Me in the Eye and Switched On "...a poignant and touching story..."-Dove Foundation "...a powerful work, A Promise to Astrid will leave a big impact on readers... Tourville's writing is touching and humorous, and his thought provoking storytelling shines through to readers. " -Hollywood Book Review National Pacific Book Award Winner! A true story, A Promise to Astrid is a captivating account of a woman whose unusual gift and stubborn determination leads to a greater purpose. When a car accident leaves a family in a predicament, Astrid intervenes and is dismissed as an eccentric elderly neighbor. Despite the family's resistance, Astrid's demonstration of faith and selflessness defy all expectations. This is the Official Motion Picture Edition of A PROMISE TO ASTRID, complete with photos, letters, cast and crew interviews and much more. Read the true story of Astrid as well as get an insider's look inside the film version, starring JoAnn Peterson and Dean Cain, with this special edition of the beloved tale of Astrid Nicosia and her enduring spirt of giving and kindness.
Publisher: Burning Bulb Publishing
ISBN: 9781948278140
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 202
Book Description
"A sweet tale of loss and an elderly neighbor's unexpected generosity. This story harkens back to a bygone time in America when young and old banded together and community was all." -John Elder Robison, New York Times Best Selling Author of Look Me in the Eye and Switched On "...a poignant and touching story..."-Dove Foundation "...a powerful work, A Promise to Astrid will leave a big impact on readers... Tourville's writing is touching and humorous, and his thought provoking storytelling shines through to readers. " -Hollywood Book Review National Pacific Book Award Winner! A true story, A Promise to Astrid is a captivating account of a woman whose unusual gift and stubborn determination leads to a greater purpose. When a car accident leaves a family in a predicament, Astrid intervenes and is dismissed as an eccentric elderly neighbor. Despite the family's resistance, Astrid's demonstration of faith and selflessness defy all expectations. This is the Official Motion Picture Edition of A PROMISE TO ASTRID, complete with photos, letters, cast and crew interviews and much more. Read the true story of Astrid as well as get an insider's look inside the film version, starring JoAnn Peterson and Dean Cain, with this special edition of the beloved tale of Astrid Nicosia and her enduring spirt of giving and kindness.
The Incredible True Story of the Making of the Eve of Destruction
Author: Amy Brashear
Publisher: Soho Press
ISBN: 1616959045
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 313
Book Description
"Though the story takes place in the '80s, it feels eerily timely."—Bustle Arkansas, 1984: The town of Griffin Flat is known for almost nothing other than its nuclear missile silos. MAD—Mutually Assured Destruction—is a fear every local lives with and tries to ignore. Unfortunately that’s impossible now that film moguls have picked Griffin Flat as the location for a new nuclear holocaust movie, aptly titled The Eve of Destruction. When sixteen-year-old Laura Ratliff wins a walk-on role (with a plus-one!) thanks to a radio call-in contest, she is more relieved than excited. Mingling with Hollywood stars on the set of a phony nuclear war is a perfect distraction from being the only child in her real nuclear family—which has also been annihilated. Her parents are divorced, and her mother has recently remarried. Her father, an officer in the Strategic Air Command, is absent . . . except when he phones at odd hours to hint at an impending catastrophe. But isn’t that his job? Laura’s only real friend is her new stepbrother, Terrence. She picks him as her plus-one for the film shoot, enraging her fair-weather friends. But their anger is nothing compared to what happens on set after the scripted nuclear explosion. Because nobody seems to know if a real nuclear bomb has detonated or not.
Publisher: Soho Press
ISBN: 1616959045
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 313
Book Description
"Though the story takes place in the '80s, it feels eerily timely."—Bustle Arkansas, 1984: The town of Griffin Flat is known for almost nothing other than its nuclear missile silos. MAD—Mutually Assured Destruction—is a fear every local lives with and tries to ignore. Unfortunately that’s impossible now that film moguls have picked Griffin Flat as the location for a new nuclear holocaust movie, aptly titled The Eve of Destruction. When sixteen-year-old Laura Ratliff wins a walk-on role (with a plus-one!) thanks to a radio call-in contest, she is more relieved than excited. Mingling with Hollywood stars on the set of a phony nuclear war is a perfect distraction from being the only child in her real nuclear family—which has also been annihilated. Her parents are divorced, and her mother has recently remarried. Her father, an officer in the Strategic Air Command, is absent . . . except when he phones at odd hours to hint at an impending catastrophe. But isn’t that his job? Laura’s only real friend is her new stepbrother, Terrence. She picks him as her plus-one for the film shoot, enraging her fair-weather friends. But their anger is nothing compared to what happens on set after the scripted nuclear explosion. Because nobody seems to know if a real nuclear bomb has detonated or not.
No Fixed Address
Author: Susin Nielsen
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN: 1524768367
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 221
Book Description
For fans of Wendelin van Draanen and Cynthia Lord, a touching and funny middle-grade story about family, friendship, and growing up when you're one step away from homelessness. Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix's mom, Astrid, is loving but can't seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy; he can't tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he'll be taken away from her and put in foster care. As their circumstances go from bad to worse, Felix gets a chance to audition for a junior edition of Who What Where When, and he's determined to earn a spot on the show. Winning the cash prize could make everything okay again. But things don't turn out the way he expects. . . . Susin Nielsen deftly combines humor, heartbreak, and hope in this moving story about people who slip through the cracks in society, and about the power of friendship and community to make all the difference.
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
ISBN: 1524768367
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 221
Book Description
For fans of Wendelin van Draanen and Cynthia Lord, a touching and funny middle-grade story about family, friendship, and growing up when you're one step away from homelessness. Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix's mom, Astrid, is loving but can't seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy; he can't tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he'll be taken away from her and put in foster care. As their circumstances go from bad to worse, Felix gets a chance to audition for a junior edition of Who What Where When, and he's determined to earn a spot on the show. Winning the cash prize could make everything okay again. But things don't turn out the way he expects. . . . Susin Nielsen deftly combines humor, heartbreak, and hope in this moving story about people who slip through the cracks in society, and about the power of friendship and community to make all the difference.
Blood Water Paint
Author: Joy McCullough
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0735232121
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
"Haunting ... teems with raw emotion, and McCullough deftly captures the experience of learning to behave in a male-driven society and then breaking outside of it."—The New Yorker "I will be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life."—Amanda Lovelace, bestselling author of the princess saves herself in this one A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist 2018 National Book Award Longlist Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint. She chose paint. By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost. He will not consume my every thought. I am a painter. I will paint. Joy McCullough's bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia's heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence. I will show you what a woman can do. ★"A captivating and impressive."—Booklist, starred review ★"Belongs on every YA shelf."—SLJ, starred review ★"Haunting."—Publishers Weekly, starred review ★"Luminous."—Shelf Awareness, starred review
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0735232121
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
"Haunting ... teems with raw emotion, and McCullough deftly captures the experience of learning to behave in a male-driven society and then breaking outside of it."—The New Yorker "I will be haunted and empowered by Artemisia Gentileschi's story for the rest of my life."—Amanda Lovelace, bestselling author of the princess saves herself in this one A William C. Morris Debut Award Finalist 2018 National Book Award Longlist Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint. She chose paint. By the time she was seventeen, Artemisia did more than grind pigment. She was one of Rome's most talented painters, even if no one knew her name. But Rome in 1610 was a city where men took what they wanted from women, and in the aftermath of rape Artemisia faced another terrible choice: a life of silence or a life of truth, no matter the cost. He will not consume my every thought. I am a painter. I will paint. Joy McCullough's bold novel in verse is a portrait of an artist as a young woman, filled with the soaring highs of creative inspiration and the devastating setbacks of a system built to break her. McCullough weaves Artemisia's heartbreaking story with the stories of the ancient heroines, Susanna and Judith, who become not only the subjects of two of Artemisia's most famous paintings but sources of strength as she battles to paint a woman's timeless truth in the face of unspeakable and all-too-familiar violence. I will show you what a woman can do. ★"A captivating and impressive."—Booklist, starred review ★"Belongs on every YA shelf."—SLJ, starred review ★"Haunting."—Publishers Weekly, starred review ★"Luminous."—Shelf Awareness, starred review
White Oleander
Author: Janet Fitch
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0759568170
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 386
Book Description
The unforgettable story of a young woman's odyssey through a series of Los Angeles foster homes on her journey to redemption. Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery - but their idyll is shattered when Astrid's mother falls apart over a lover. Deranged by rejection, Ingrid murders the man, and is sentenced to life in prison. White Oleander is the unforgettable story of Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in impossible circumstances. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons to be learned. With determination and humor, Astrid confronts the challenges of loneliness and poverty, and strives to learn who a motherless child in an indifferent world can become. Oprah Winfrey enjoyed this gripping first novel so much that she not only made it her book club pick, she asked if she could narrate the audio release.
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0759568170
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 386
Book Description
The unforgettable story of a young woman's odyssey through a series of Los Angeles foster homes on her journey to redemption. Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery - but their idyll is shattered when Astrid's mother falls apart over a lover. Deranged by rejection, Ingrid murders the man, and is sentenced to life in prison. White Oleander is the unforgettable story of Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in impossible circumstances. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons to be learned. With determination and humor, Astrid confronts the challenges of loneliness and poverty, and strives to learn who a motherless child in an indifferent world can become. Oprah Winfrey enjoyed this gripping first novel so much that she not only made it her book club pick, she asked if she could narrate the audio release.
Voices from the Fallen
Author: Michael K Tourville
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781948278324
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 176
Book Description
Voices from the Fallen takes us on an intimate journey inside the lives of people who have experienced the hell of addiction, the relentless defeat of relapse, and hope of recovery. Listen to them speak about fear and desperation, hope and optimism. Sit with them in solitary misery, feel their grief over a lost family member, and share their joy with the promise of a renewed life. Listen closely, for these courageous voices come from those all around us, and can help rebuild shattered families, restore broken hearts, and save lives. "If, like so many others, you've lost sight of your own life in the drama of tending to someone else's addiction, you may find yourself in this book. Fantastic job taking us into the mind of the addict." - Dean Cain, Actor, Producer "This was amazing. I didn't just read these stories, I intensely felt them. My heart was pulled out and put it through the wringer. I seriously was broken reading this." - Jason Campbell, President, JC Films "Voices from the Fallen opens the eyes to the rollercoaster ride for the addicted, as well as the impact on loved ones that must anguish through the daily battle. Mike Tourville illuminates the importance of this problem, which permeates every level of our society. A must-read..." - Paul Connor, West Springfield Chief of Police "These hard-hitting experiences have the potential to save lives. The extraordinary courage of these individuals and family members goes above and beyond normal expectations. This book is essential reading for those who are at risk or know anyone who may be." - William Sapelli, Mayor of Agawam, Massachusetts "...a must-read for anyone looking for insight and understanding into the life of an addict and those affected by it. If you are an addict or love someone who is, reach out. You are not alone. There is HOPE!" - George and Marilyn Ekimovich Ministry Leaders, LifePoint Church, Chicopee, MA Bonus: An excerpt from Michael K. Tourville's A Promise to Astrid included inside!
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781948278324
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 176
Book Description
Voices from the Fallen takes us on an intimate journey inside the lives of people who have experienced the hell of addiction, the relentless defeat of relapse, and hope of recovery. Listen to them speak about fear and desperation, hope and optimism. Sit with them in solitary misery, feel their grief over a lost family member, and share their joy with the promise of a renewed life. Listen closely, for these courageous voices come from those all around us, and can help rebuild shattered families, restore broken hearts, and save lives. "If, like so many others, you've lost sight of your own life in the drama of tending to someone else's addiction, you may find yourself in this book. Fantastic job taking us into the mind of the addict." - Dean Cain, Actor, Producer "This was amazing. I didn't just read these stories, I intensely felt them. My heart was pulled out and put it through the wringer. I seriously was broken reading this." - Jason Campbell, President, JC Films "Voices from the Fallen opens the eyes to the rollercoaster ride for the addicted, as well as the impact on loved ones that must anguish through the daily battle. Mike Tourville illuminates the importance of this problem, which permeates every level of our society. A must-read..." - Paul Connor, West Springfield Chief of Police "These hard-hitting experiences have the potential to save lives. The extraordinary courage of these individuals and family members goes above and beyond normal expectations. This book is essential reading for those who are at risk or know anyone who may be." - William Sapelli, Mayor of Agawam, Massachusetts "...a must-read for anyone looking for insight and understanding into the life of an addict and those affected by it. If you are an addict or love someone who is, reach out. You are not alone. There is HOPE!" - George and Marilyn Ekimovich Ministry Leaders, LifePoint Church, Chicopee, MA Bonus: An excerpt from Michael K. Tourville's A Promise to Astrid included inside!
Looking for Strangers
Author: Dori Katz
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022606333X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 181
Book Description
Dori Katz is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who thought that her lost memories of her childhood years in Belgium were irrecoverable. But after a chance viewing of a documentary about hidden children in German-occupied Belgium, she realized that she might, in fact, be able to unearth those years. Looking for Strangers is the deeply honest record of her attempt to do so, a detective story that unfolds through one of the most horrifying periods in history in an attempt to understand one’s place within it. In alternating chapters, Katz journeys into multiple pasts, setting details from her mother’s stories that have captivated her throughout her life alongside an account of her own return to Belgium forty years later—against her mother’s urgings—in search of greater clarity. She reconnects her sharp but fragmented memories: being sent by her mother in 1943, at the age of three, to live with a Catholic family under a Christian identity; then being given up, inexplicably, to an orphanage in the years immediately following the war. Only after that, amid postwar confusion, was she able to reconnect with her mother. Following this trail through Belgium to her past places of hiding, Katz eventually finds herself in San Francisco, speaking with a man who claimed to have known her father in Auschwitz—and thus known his end. Weighing many other stories from the people she meets along her way—all of whom seem to hold something back—she attempts to stitch thread after thread into a unified truth, to understand the countless motivations and circumstances that determined her remarkable life. A story at once about self-discovery, the transformation of memory, a fraught mother-daughter relationship, and the oppression of millions, Looking for Strangers is a book of both historical insight and imaginative grasp. It is a book in which the past, through its very mystery, becomes alive, immediate—of the most urgent importance.
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022606333X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 181
Book Description
Dori Katz is a Jewish Holocaust survivor who thought that her lost memories of her childhood years in Belgium were irrecoverable. But after a chance viewing of a documentary about hidden children in German-occupied Belgium, she realized that she might, in fact, be able to unearth those years. Looking for Strangers is the deeply honest record of her attempt to do so, a detective story that unfolds through one of the most horrifying periods in history in an attempt to understand one’s place within it. In alternating chapters, Katz journeys into multiple pasts, setting details from her mother’s stories that have captivated her throughout her life alongside an account of her own return to Belgium forty years later—against her mother’s urgings—in search of greater clarity. She reconnects her sharp but fragmented memories: being sent by her mother in 1943, at the age of three, to live with a Catholic family under a Christian identity; then being given up, inexplicably, to an orphanage in the years immediately following the war. Only after that, amid postwar confusion, was she able to reconnect with her mother. Following this trail through Belgium to her past places of hiding, Katz eventually finds herself in San Francisco, speaking with a man who claimed to have known her father in Auschwitz—and thus known his end. Weighing many other stories from the people she meets along her way—all of whom seem to hold something back—she attempts to stitch thread after thread into a unified truth, to understand the countless motivations and circumstances that determined her remarkable life. A story at once about self-discovery, the transformation of memory, a fraught mother-daughter relationship, and the oppression of millions, Looking for Strangers is a book of both historical insight and imaginative grasp. It is a book in which the past, through its very mystery, becomes alive, immediate—of the most urgent importance.