A Natural

A Natural PDF Author: Ross Raisin
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0525508783
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
From dreams of soccer glory to the realities of the minor leagues, the high-stakes world of English football comes to life in this vivid coming-of-age novel for fans of Nick Hornby and The Art of Fielding. After his unceremonious release from a Premier League academy at nineteen, Tom feels his bright future slipping away. The only contract offer he receives is from a lower-level club. Away from home for the first time, Tom struggles on and off the field, anxious to avoid the cruel pranks and hazing rituals of his teammates. Then a taboo encounter upends what little stability he has, forcing Tom to reconcile his suppressed desires with his drive to succeed. Meanwhile, the team’s popular captain, Chris, is in denial about the state of his marriage. His wife, Leah, has almost forgotten the dreams she once held for her career. As her husband is transferred from club to club, and raising their first child practically on her own, she is lost, disillusioned with where life has taken her. A Natural delves into the heart of a professional soccer club: the pressure, the loneliness, the threat of scandal, the fragility of the body, and the struggle of conforming to the person everybody else expects you to be. Praise for A Natural “This is a bold novel. [Raisin has a] deep and unwavering empathy for others, and an ability to find flashes of beauty in life’s unforgiving ugliness. His language might be spare, but his turn of phrase is strikingly elegant. . . . The way is lit by his keen perceptions; the novel suggests the frustrations that arise when lived experience fails to align with what was imagined, and analyzes the gap between spectatorship and participation. . . . If Raisin has chosen to focus on that which stifles rather than frees us, he has done so to demonstrate precisely why we need all the things that society and circumstance suppress. . . . The confidence and skill with which he pursues his vision is not just persuasive, it’s powerful.”—The New York Times Book Review “Raisin’s transporting and acutely observed novel speaks to us all. First-rate.”—Booklist (starred review) “An intimate picture of life in the lower reaches of professional British football . . . a bold theme . . . is rendered with restraint and sympathy. . . . [A Natural] is a sensitive treatment of very different kinds of solitude and pain.”—Kirkus Reviews

A Natural

A Natural PDF Author: Ross Raisin
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 0525508783
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 401

Get Book Here

Book Description
From dreams of soccer glory to the realities of the minor leagues, the high-stakes world of English football comes to life in this vivid coming-of-age novel for fans of Nick Hornby and The Art of Fielding. After his unceremonious release from a Premier League academy at nineteen, Tom feels his bright future slipping away. The only contract offer he receives is from a lower-level club. Away from home for the first time, Tom struggles on and off the field, anxious to avoid the cruel pranks and hazing rituals of his teammates. Then a taboo encounter upends what little stability he has, forcing Tom to reconcile his suppressed desires with his drive to succeed. Meanwhile, the team’s popular captain, Chris, is in denial about the state of his marriage. His wife, Leah, has almost forgotten the dreams she once held for her career. As her husband is transferred from club to club, and raising their first child practically on her own, she is lost, disillusioned with where life has taken her. A Natural delves into the heart of a professional soccer club: the pressure, the loneliness, the threat of scandal, the fragility of the body, and the struggle of conforming to the person everybody else expects you to be. Praise for A Natural “This is a bold novel. [Raisin has a] deep and unwavering empathy for others, and an ability to find flashes of beauty in life’s unforgiving ugliness. His language might be spare, but his turn of phrase is strikingly elegant. . . . The way is lit by his keen perceptions; the novel suggests the frustrations that arise when lived experience fails to align with what was imagined, and analyzes the gap between spectatorship and participation. . . . If Raisin has chosen to focus on that which stifles rather than frees us, he has done so to demonstrate precisely why we need all the things that society and circumstance suppress. . . . The confidence and skill with which he pursues his vision is not just persuasive, it’s powerful.”—The New York Times Book Review “Raisin’s transporting and acutely observed novel speaks to us all. First-rate.”—Booklist (starred review) “An intimate picture of life in the lower reaches of professional British football . . . a bold theme . . . is rendered with restraint and sympathy. . . . [A Natural] is a sensitive treatment of very different kinds of solitude and pain.”—Kirkus Reviews

The Feet of Blue Pigeons (Have Body Will Guard Book 13)

The Feet of Blue Pigeons (Have Body Will Guard Book 13) PDF Author: Neil S Plakcy
Publisher: Samwise Books
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
During a break in the pandemic, Aidan Greene gets a panicked message from an old college friend living in Luxembourg. Ethan Katz is a banking exec in Luxembourg for a bank owned by a family from the UAE. He’s discovered a money-laundering scheme which puts his life in danger and local security can’t help him because they are stretched thin from the pandemic. Can Aidan and Liam help protect him? They haven’t worked much since the onset of Covid-19, so they welcome the chance to earn some money, and help an old friend. But when everyone around them is wearing masks, it’s hard for Aidan and Liam to discern real threats. Their investigation leads them into dangerous territory, uncovering details about immigrant smuggling and who might be behind the money laundering scheme. The pandemic also brings back uncomfortable memories of life during the AIDS crisis, opening up old wounds and drawing Aidan and Liam even closer together, even as they investigate and face dramatic dangers. Ripped from the headlines, the newest Have Body, Will Guard adventure is sure to delight fans of the series. New readers will find it easy to jump in as well. Romance fans will appreciate a subplot bringing two damaged men together.

Arestana: The Defense Quest

Arestana: The Defense Quest PDF Author: Shawn P. B. Robinson
Publisher: BrainSwell Publishing
ISBN: 1775190331
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 247

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Book Description
Get ready for the hysterical sequel that catapults thirteen-year-old Liam into a slapstick adventure of epic proportions! Unwillingly thrust into a world he thought he’d escaped, Liam faces an unexpected role—leading the charge for freedom against an unstoppable enemy. In this sidesplitting escapade, join Liam as he wrangles an entire nation’s armies in a battle that defies reason. From hilarious mishaps to zany strategies, Liam’s journey promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, laughing all the way. But the laughter doesn’t end when Liam returns home. Brace yourself for the shock of a lifetime because, this time, Liam isn’t the only one making a grand entrance. Prepare for a middle-grade adventure that transcends the ordinary, filled with laugh-out-loud moments, unexpected twists, and a cast of characters that will leave you in stitches. With every turn of the page, Liam’s hilarious escapades will captivate readers, proving that, even in the most unlikely circumstances, humor is the ultimate weapon! “a unique mixture of humor with suspense and adventure that appeals to the quirky nature of many pre-teen readers.” Phyllis, Amazon Reviewer. “I laughed way too hard on this one!” ENH, Goodreads Reviewer. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both Arestana books but I have to say that book 2, The Defense Quest is even better than the first.” Scott, Amazon Reviewer. “I loved the first book in the Arestana series but I loved the second book even more… The characters are absolutely fantastic, especially Lenny the horse. I can't wait for the next book!” Joe and Hollie, Amazon Reviewers. “…this is a very good series that I will and have recommended to my students…” Patricia, Amazon Reviewer. “What the author has done with these books is fabulous! I feel so much better suggesting these books to parents for their children to read, as these books are adventurous, funny, engaging and clear of so much of the garbage that I see in so many other books for children...” Gail, Goodreads Reviewer.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! PDF Author: Mo Willems
Publisher: Hyperion
ISBN: 9781423109600
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
He really, really, REALLY wants one. He'll take really good care of it! What's the matter--don't you want him to be happy?/DIV DIVThe latest book in the best-selling Pigeon series is the funniest one yet.

Allegations for Marriage Licences Issued by the Bishop of London, 1520 to [1828]

Allegations for Marriage Licences Issued by the Bishop of London, 1520 to [1828] PDF Author: Joseph Lemuel Chester
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Marriage licenses
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description


American Pigeon Journal

American Pigeon Journal PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Pigeons
Languages : en
Pages : 848

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Book Description


Pigeon Post

Pigeon Post PDF Author: Arthur Ransome
Publisher: David R. Godine Publisher
ISBN: 1567926398
Category : Electronic books
Languages : en
Pages : 411

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Book Description
Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. Ransome is not only a great storyteller, writing from first-hand experience, but each story celebrates eternally valuable qualities of practical knowledge, independence, and initiative. The twelve books are for children or grownups-anyone captivated by a world of sailing, adventure, and imagination. The crew's on holiday for their sixth adventure, and they turn their energies to mining for gold, aided by pigeon messengers Homer, Sophocles, and Sappho. The adventurers comb the nearby hills for a fabled lost claim, while being shadowed by a mysterious figure they dub "squashy hat." Undeterred by drought, sudden brushfires, and the continuing presence of Squashy Hat, the young prospectors persevere in their quest-with surprising results. Full of the dangers and dark adventures of old mines and forgotten claims, Pigeon Post has an irresistible appeal to the persistent explorer in all of us.

The Publications of the Harleian Society

The Publications of the Harleian Society PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Great Britain
Languages : en
Pages : 412

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Book Description
Includes reports, etc., of the Society.

Blowback

Blowback PDF Author: James Patterson
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 031649965X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 462

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Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of The President Is Missing, America has elected its most brilliant president ever, but he’s also a psychopath—and about to start a world war with our most dangerous enemy. US President Keegan Barrett has swept into office on his success as Director of the CIA. Six months into his first term, he devises a clandestine power grab with deadly consequences. Barrett personally orders CIA agents Liam Grey and Noa Himel to execute his plan, but their loyalties are divided. The CIA serves at the pleasure of the president, yet they’ve sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. When the threat comes directly from the Oval Office, that’s where the blowback begins. “Pure Patterson… Blowback asks us to imagine what would happen if a narcissistic psychopath were elected to the White House [and] to experience the terror of the world hanging in the balance at a moment when only a handful of determined patriots can save us.” –Ron Charles, Washington Post

Vanishing America

Vanishing America PDF Author: Miles A. Powell
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674972937
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
Putting a provocative new slant on the history of U.S. conservation, Vanishing America reveals how wilderness preservation efforts became entangled with racial anxieties—specifically the fear that forces of modern civilization, unless checked, would sap white America’s vigor and stamina. Nineteenth-century citizens of European descent widely believed that Native Americans would eventually vanish from the continent. Indian society was thought to be tied to the wilderness, and the manifest destiny of U.S. westward expansion, coupled with industry’s ever-growing hunger for natural resources, presaged the disappearance of Indian peoples. Yet, as the frontier drew to a close, some naturalists chronicling the loss of animal and plant populations began to worry that white Americans might soon share the Indians’ presumed fate. Miles Powell explores how early conservationists such as George Perkins Marsh, William Temple Hornaday, and Aldo Leopold became convinced that the continued vitality of America’s “Nordic” and “Anglo-Saxon” races depended on preserving the wilderness. Fears over the destiny of white Americans drove some conservationists to embrace scientific racism, eugenics, and restrictive immigration laws. Although these activists laid the groundwork for the modern environmental movement and its many successes, the consequences of their racial anxieties persist.