The Italian Teacher

The Italian Teacher PDF Author: Tom Rachman
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
ISBN: 0385689616
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description
A sparkling, propulsive new novel from the bestselling author of The Imperfectionists. Rome, 1955. The artists gather for a picture at a party in an ancient villa. Bear Bavinsky, creator of vast canvases, larger than life, is at the centre of the picture. His wife, Natalie, edges out of the shot. From the side of the room watches little Pinch--their son. At five years old he loves Bear almost as much as he fears him. After Bear abandons their family, Pinch will still worship him, striving to live up to the Bavinsky name; while Natalie, a ceramicist, cannot hope to be more than a forgotten muse. Trying to burn brightly in his father's shadow, Pinch's attempts flicker and die. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, Pinch will enact an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy. A masterful, original examination of love, duty, art and fame, The Italian Teacher cements Tom Rachman as among this generation's most exciting literary voices.

The Italian Teacher

The Italian Teacher PDF Author: Tom Rachman
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
ISBN: 0385689616
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 342

Get Book Here

Book Description
A sparkling, propulsive new novel from the bestselling author of The Imperfectionists. Rome, 1955. The artists gather for a picture at a party in an ancient villa. Bear Bavinsky, creator of vast canvases, larger than life, is at the centre of the picture. His wife, Natalie, edges out of the shot. From the side of the room watches little Pinch--their son. At five years old he loves Bear almost as much as he fears him. After Bear abandons their family, Pinch will still worship him, striving to live up to the Bavinsky name; while Natalie, a ceramicist, cannot hope to be more than a forgotten muse. Trying to burn brightly in his father's shadow, Pinch's attempts flicker and die. Yet by the end of a career of twists and compromises, Pinch will enact an unexpected rebellion that will leave forever his mark upon the Bear Bavinsky legacy. A masterful, original examination of love, duty, art and fame, The Italian Teacher cements Tom Rachman as among this generation's most exciting literary voices.

The Rise & Fall of Great Powers

The Rise & Fall of Great Powers PDF Author: Tom Rachman
Publisher: Dial Press
ISBN: 0812995724
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 388

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Book Description
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The Seattle Times • The Globe and Mail • Kirkus Reviews • Daily Mail • The Vancouver Sun From the author of The Italian Teacher and The Imperfectionists comes a brilliant, intricately woven novel about a young woman who travels the world to make sense of her puzzling past. Look in the back of the book for a conversation between Tom Rachman and J. R. Moehringer Following one of the most critically acclaimed fiction debuts in years, New York Times bestselling author Tom Rachman returns with a brilliant, intricately woven novel about a young woman who travels the world to make sense of her puzzling past. Tooly Zylberberg, the American owner of an isolated bookshop in the Welsh countryside, conducts a life full of reading, but with few human beings. Books are safer than people, who might ask awkward questions about her life. She prefers never to mention the strange events of her youth, which mystify and worry her still. Taken from home as a girl, Tooly found herself spirited away by a group of seductive outsiders, implicated in capers from Asia to Europe to the United States. But who were her abductors? Why did they take her? What did they really want? There was Humphrey, the curmudgeonly Russian with a passion for reading; there was the charming but tempestuous Sarah, who sowed chaos in her wake; and there was Venn, the charismatic leader whose worldview transformed Tooly forever. Until, quite suddenly, he disappeared. Years later, Tooly believes she will never understand the true story of her own life. Then startling news arrives from a long-lost boyfriend in New York, raising old mysteries and propelling her on a quest around the world in search of answers. Tom Rachman—an author celebrated for humanity, humor, and wonderful characters—has produced a stunning novel that reveals the tale not just of one woman but of the past quarter-century as well, from the end of the Cold War to the dominance of American empire to the digital revolution of today. Leaping between decades, and from Bangkok to Brooklyn, this is a breathtaking novel about long-buried secrets and how we must choose to make our own place in the world. It will confirm Rachman’s reputation as one of the most exciting young writers we have. Praise for The Rise & Fall of Great Powers “Ingenious . . . Rachman needs only a few well-drawn characters to fill a large canvas and an impressive swath of history.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times “A superb follow-up to 2010’s The Imperfectionists . . . ambitious and engaging.”—The Seattle Times “Engaging and inventive . . . full of wonderfully quirky, deeply flawed, but lovable characters . . . On the spectrum of interesting literary childhoods, Tooly Zylberberg—the protagonist of Tom Rachman’s second novel—would rank somewhere in the vicinity of Jane Eyre and Oliver Twist.”—San Francisco Chronicle “I found it impossible not to fall in love with shape-shifting Tooly. As an adult, she sports an ironical sense of humor and an attraction to dusty old books. As a child, her straight-faced mirth and wordplay are break-your-heart irresistible.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post “[A] read-it-all-in-one-weekend book.”—The New Republic “A compelling page-turner . . . intricate, sprawling, and almost Dickensian.”—USA Today

The Child Is the Teacher

The Child Is the Teacher PDF Author: Cristina De Stefano
Publisher: Other Press, LLC
ISBN: 1635420857
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 369

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Book Description
A fresh, comprehensive biography of the pioneering educator and activist who changed the way we look at children’s minds, from the author of Oriana Fallaci. Born in 1870 in Chiaravalle, Italy, Maria Montessori would grow up to embody almost every trait men of her era detested in the fairer sex. She was self-confident, strong-willed, and had a fiery temper at a time when women were supposed to be soft and pliable. She studied until she became a doctor at a time when female graduates in Italy provoked outright scandal. She never wanted to marry or have children—the accepted destiny for all women of her milieu in late nineteenth-century bourgeois Rome—and when she became pregnant by a colleague of hers, she gave up her son to continue pursuing her career. At around age thirty, Montessori was struck by the condition of children in the slums of Rome’s San Lorenzo neighborhood, and realized what she wanted to do with her life: change the school, and therefore the world, through a new approach to the child’s mind. In spite of the resistance she faced from all sides—scientists accused her of being too mystical, and the clergy of being too scientific, traditionalists of giving children too much freedom, and anarchists of giving them too much structure—she would garner acclaim and establish the influential Montessori method, which is now practiced throughout the world. A thorough, nuanced portrait of this often controversial woman, The Child Is the Teacher is the first biographical work on Maria Montessori written by an author who is not a member of the Montessori movement, but who has been granted access to original letters, diaries, notes, and texts written by Montessori herself, including an array of previously unpublished material.

The Italian Party

The Italian Party PDF Author: Christina Lynch
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 1250147840
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
This novel of love and espionage in 1950s Italy “plays like a confectionary Hollywood romance with some deeper notes reminiscent of John le Carré” (Publishers Weekly). Tuscany, 1956. Newlywed American couple Scottie and Michael have arrived in Tuscany with a lot of luggage and some heavy secrets. Scottie has no idea that her husband is a covert CIA operative. Michael has no idea that Scottie is pregnant with someone else’s child. When Scottie’s young Italian teacher disappears, her search for him leads her to some dark truths about herself, her marriage, and her country. Michael is dedication to saving the world from communism. But he’s starting to realize he’s just a pawn in a much different game. Driven apart by lies, Michael and Scottie must find their way through a maze of history, memory, hate and love to a new kind of complicated truth. Half glamorous fun, half an examination of America’s role in the world, and filled with sun-dappled pasta lunches, prosecco, charming spies and horse racing, The Italian Party is “dashing, fun, sexy and witty—a fun read on multiple levels” (Historical Novel Society Magazine).

The Book of Hidden Things

The Book of Hidden Things PDF Author: Francesco Dimitri
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA)
ISBN: 1785657089
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
Four old friends confront their darkest secrets in this fantasy steeped in nostalgia, folklore, religion, and the seductive landscape of Southern Italy—by the Italian Neil Gaiman. “A tale of adventure, mystery, friendship and heart-wrenching beauty that will make you re-examine what is holy, what is true, and what is beyond the realm of possibility.” —BookPage Four old school friends have a pact: to meet up every year in the small town in Puglia they grew up in. Art, the charismatic leader of the group and creator of the pact, insists that the agreement must remain unshakable and enduring. But this year, he never shows up. A visit to his house increases the friends’ worry: Art is farming marijuana. In Southern Italy doing that kind of thing can be very dangerous. They can’t go to the Carabinieri so must make enquiries of their own. This is how they come across the rumors about Art—bizarre and unbelievable rumors that he miraculously cured the local mafia boss’ daughter of terminal leukemia. And among the chaos of his house, they find a document written by Art, “The Book of Hidden Things”, that promises to reveal dark secrets and wonders beyond anything previously known. Set in the beguiling and seductive world of Southern Italy, Francesco Dimitri’s first novel in English is a story friendship, landscape, love, betrayal, and mystery that will entrance fans of Elena Ferrante, Neil Gaiman, and Donna Tartt.

The Imperfectionists

The Imperfectionists PDF Author: Tom Rachman
Publisher: Dial Press
ISBN: 1588369749
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 340

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Book Description
From the author of The Italian Teacher, this acclaimed debut novel set in Rome follows the topsy-turvy lives of the denizens of an English language newspaper. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York Times • The Economist • NPR • Slate • The Christian Science Monitor • Financial Times • The Plain Dealer • Minneapolis Star Tribune • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Kansas City Star • The Globe and Mail • Publishers Weekly Look in the back of the book for a conversation between Tom Rachman and Malcolm Gladwell Fifty years and many changes have ensued since the paper was founded by an enigmatic millionaire, and now, amid the stained carpeting and dingy office furniture, the staff’s personal dramas seem far more important than the daily headlines. Kathleen, the imperious editor in chief, is smarting from a betrayal in her open marriage; Arthur, the lazy obituary writer, is transformed by a personal tragedy; Abby, the embattled financial officer, discovers that her job cuts and her love life are intertwined in a most unexpected way. Out in the field, a veteran Paris freelancer goes to desperate lengths for his next byline, while the new Cairo stringer is mercilessly manipulated by an outrageous war correspondent with an outsize ego. And in the shadows is the isolated young publisher who pays more attention to his prized basset hound, Schopenhauer, than to the fate of his family’s quirky newspaper. As the era of print news gives way to the Internet age and this imperfect crew stumbles toward an uncertain future, the paper’s rich history is revealed, including the surprising truth about its founder’s intentions. Spirited, moving, and highly original, The Imperfectionists will establish Tom Rachman as one of our most perceptive, assured literary talents.

The Heart Is the Teacher

The Heart Is the Teacher PDF Author: Leonard Covello
Publisher: John D. Calandra Italian American Institute Queens College C
ISBN: 9781939323026
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 238

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Book Description
About "The Heart Is the Teacher" [Leonard] Covello's experience as an Italian-American immigrant boy enrolled in the American public-school system and later his frustrations teaching second-generation Italian-American high-school students caused him to focus his life's work on resolving their specific educational problems. Covello's accomplishments in creating a pedagogical strategy to meet the needs of the children of Italian immigrants and his identification of the need for language and cultural retention into the second- and third-generation, and beyond, place him at the very heart of Italian-American history. The applicability of his ideas and work to other immigrant groups inserts his life and efforts into the general history of immigration in America. In addition, Leonard Covello is a major figure in a relatively small, but remarkable, group of intellectuals who posed cultural pluralism as the better path for the immigrants and for the United States than the hegemonic "Americanization" project. To the inexorable, and deplorable, prospect of the demise of the Italian-American community as a consequence of assimilation, viz., Americanization, Covello proposed an alternative vision of how Italian-American and other immigrant cultures (and especially their languages) could endure and flourish in their new homeland. - from the Afterword by Gerald Meyer

The Ultimate Italian Review and Practice

The Ultimate Italian Review and Practice PDF Author: David M. Stillman
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071792678
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 449

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Book Description
Review + Practice = Confident Communication in Italian! Focused on the needs of advanced beginners to advanced students, The Ultimate Italian Review and Practice will transform the way you look at Italian grammar--from a set of easily forgotten rules to stepping stones toward accurate and confident communication. Combining concise review with extensive practice, this book provides the ultimate way to polish your Italian-language skills. The Ultimate Italian Review and Practice offers: Clear, concise explanations of all the grammar topics, illustrated with examples from everyday life More than 350 exercises with an answer key to help you master Italian grammar and vocabulary Vocabulary boxes providing the terms and expressions that will increase your ability to express yourself Cultural notes enhancing the effectiveness of the grammar exercises while acquainting learners with contemporary Italy Expand your knowledge of grammar parts such as: The present tense of irregular verbs * Passato prossimo * Gerunds * Gender of nouns * The pronoun ne * Possessive adjectives * Prefixes * Cardinal numbers * Imperatives * and much more

The Overly Honest Teacher

The Overly Honest Teacher PDF Author: Meredith Essalat
Publisher: The Collective Book Studio
ISBN: 195141215X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
“When a teacher gives anything other than glowing feedback, it's tough to keep from slipping into a defensive stance. Enter The Overly Honest Teacher...written by seasoned educator and administrator Meredith Essalat, M.Ed. The Overly Honest Teacher is filled with tangible advice from how to best communicate with your children's teachers to how to start your kids' school day off on the right foot.” –Amy Lupold Bair, Founder of Resourceful Mommy Media, LLC All parents want their children to have the tools to vocalize their emotions—to own their opinions, their fears, and their views of the world. But parents don’t always feel prepared to take on the role of model adult. As both a teacher and a school principal, Meredith Essalat has lived the daily challenges of helping children navigate through their young lives. She has seen the struggles that parents have as they balance long working hours with the demands of home life. She sees that it’s the teachers who are often caught in the middle. In an effort to stop pointing out each other's flaws—and instead letting kids know they are supported—Essalat offers hard-won pointers that enable parents, teachers, and students alike to encourage one another with accountability. Combining humor with straightforward, practical advice, The Overly Honest Teacher educates parents on how to embrace everyday parenting gracefully. The results will be well-adjusted, positive, enthusiastic young adults ready to work hard and learn vastly.

Bambini

Bambini PDF Author: Lella Gandini
Publisher: Teachers College Press
ISBN: 0807775266
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 266

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Book Description
This volume is a timely contribution to the burgeoning dialogue on the Reggio Emilia approach, and features the work of prominent scholars, policy-makers, researchers, administrators, and practicing teachers who have created and directed the infant-toddler care systems in four cities in Italy. Joined by American educators and researchers (including Ron Lally, Rebecca New, and Jeanne Goldhaber), their work builds upon and extends inclusionary and family-centered philosophies. It combines missions of care and education, and produces innovations in space and environments. This collection is filled with dozens of examples of experiences with dynamic, open systems of organization that support emotional and cognitive development of infants and toddlers—and respect the delicate relationship between parents and their young. Also included are photos, some in color. Topics include: Complementary family-centered systems of early care, education, and intervention Practical experimentation and teaching strategies like the inserimento (first transition of child and family into the center), and diario (memory book), as well as explanations of the rationale behind them Best practices for quality care programs with broad implications for reflective teaching in America's early care programs “Bravo for a splendid book! Leading figures in Italy's famous preschool movement (plus a few well-informed foreigners) provide vivid descriptions not only of pedagogical practices, but also of the evolving politics of decentralization that has kept Italy's preschools under local community control with no sacrifice of standards. Compulsory reading!” —Jerome Bruner, New York University “This book is simply wonderful—every page! Throughout the sixteen chapters—written mostly by the Italians themselves—practices, policies, reflections, and research on how best to serve infants and toddlers and their families are shared.” —Lilian G. Katz, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign “Though the Italian experience cannot simply be transplanted to the United States, by staying in the conversation, we will deepen and sharpen our understanding of what we want for our infant-toddler parent-teacher programs and may even discover some strategies for getting them there.” —E. Z. Tronick, Harvard School of Education and Harvard Medical School