Publisher: Delboy
In 1841, African American Solomon Northup, a free man, is kidnapped and forced into slavery under the name 'Platt' for 12 years. He faces the hardships of being a slave under the hands of a few different slave owners. Through faith, will power, and courage Northup must survive and endure those 12 years as a slave.
Preface Welcome to the vibrant, unpredictable world of Slab City California—a place where trials and transformation intersect amidst the desert ruins. In the season of 2024, I embarked on a journey to this otherworldly post-apocalyptic landscape, seeking refuge from the constraints of modern society and discovering profound lessons in resilience and human connection. My experiences in Slab City were nothing short of transformative. What began as a quest for escape evolved into a profound exploration of self-discovery and communal living. Here, amidst the remnants of a forgotten military base, I encountered a community unlike any other—a gathering of souls navigating their own purgatories, seeking solace and renewal in the desert expanse. As you delve into the pages of this book, you'll join me on a journey of personal evolution and collective wisdom. From the vibrant art installations of East Jesus to the camaraderie of the Oasis Club, each encounter in Slab City left an indelible mark on my spirit. The Slabbers I met—resilient, resourceful, and irreverently creative—taught me invaluable lessons about living authentically and embracing the unexpected. Through the trials and tribulations of Slab City, I discovered that true transformation begins with the courage to embrace the unknown and the willingness to connect deeply with others. This book is a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity, a celebration of unconventional living, and a reminder that amidst desolation, hope and community flourish. Join me as we uncover the secrets of Slab City, where the mundane fades away and the extraordinary emerges. May this journey inspire you to seek your own path of authenticity and resilience, wherever your adventures may lead. Let the metamorphosis begin. JasonShow book
Paul Kennedy's Funkytown is the vivid true story of a year in the life of a teenager leaping into manhood.It is 1993: a serial killer is loose on the streets of Frankston, Victoria. The community is paralysed by fear and a state's police force and national media come to find a killer. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Paul Kennedy is searching for something else entirely. He is focused on finishing school, getting drafted into the AFL and falling in love. So much can change in a year.The rites of passage for many Australian teenage boys - blackout drinking, simmering violence and emotional suppression - take their toll, and the year that starts with so much promise ends with Kennedy expelled, arrested and undrafted. But one teacher sees Kennedy self-destructing, and becomes determined to set him on another path.Told with poignancy, humour and evoking the brilliant, dusty haze of late Australian summer, Funkytown is a love letter to adolescence, football, family, and outer suburbia.‘A brilliant story of a young boy told by a man who, in the end, found his way.' JIMMY BARNES‘Leaps into the joy and fear of coming of age ... I love this book.' SOFIE LAGUNA‘A moving and enlightening account of being seventeen and struggling. This is a great read.' PAUL JENNINGSShow book
Following an intense chance meeting Mark leaves his wife to begin a new life with Cleo. What starts as a fairytale swiftly turns into a black comedy. Under the illusion she knows everything about the loveable rogue she has fallen for, Cleo is shocked to discover that he may not be so lovable after all. By the time realisation kicks in, Mark and Cleo are in the grips of a bad, mad love affair that neither of them seem able to walk away from. The story which is based on true events (unfortunately) gives an alternative viewpoint on topics that are current yet still somewhat taboo. Mental health, odd OCD tendencies, anger, jealousy, emotional abuse, an occasional fight, drinking too much, eating too little, unwanted pregnancies and a s_ _tload of swearing. Thinking things can't get any worse, Cleo marches on, telling her story with a dry sense of humour and a 'just get on with it' attitude. Only things do get worse. Very much worse. Has she got the strength to deal with a woman's worst nightmare? After everything she has been through will this be the final nail in the coffin or the chance of a new life. Spanning nearly two decades, this is a raw and honest account of an unconventional love story, funny, sad, jaw dropping and completely addictive. Cleo James lifts up the carpet where society sweeps things they would rather not talk about and brings them out in the open. Shameless and unapologetic with an ending you won't see coming however hard you look.Show book
Infertility is a battle that women have been fighting for centuries, but the seemingly taboo subject is rarely discussed openly. In "Having a Baby and Other Things I'm Bad At," Bailey Henry describes her journey with infertility, including four miscarriages, marriage, grief, love, and the chance she was never properly potty-trained. With raw honesty, heartbreak, and a bit of potty humor, Bailey discusses the trials of being pregnant, but never having a baby. She masterfully brings women's issues to the foreground―where they belong. If you've known the devastating loss of a child, or if your life simply hasn't turned out the way you thought it would, this one is for you.Show book
“[Lagnado writes] in crystalline yet melodious prose.”—New York TimesLucette Lagnado’s acclaimed, award-winning The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit (“[a] crushing, brilliant book” —New York Times Book Review) told the powerfully moving story of her Jewish family’s exile from Egypt. In her extraordinary follow-up memoir, The Arrogant Years, Lagnado revisits her first years in America, and describes a difficult coming-of-age tragically interrupted by a bout with cancer at age 16. At once a poignant mother and daughter story and a magnificent snapshot of the turbulent ’60s and ’70s, The Arrogant Years is a stunning work of memory and resilience that ranges from Cairo to Brooklyn and beyond—the unforgettable true story of a remarkable young woman’s determination to push past the boundaries of her life and make her way in the wider world.Show book
A celebration of the character and style of one of the world's most spectacular cities! This vibrant insider's view of the most mature city on earth is the perfect companion for anyone who loves anything Italian. In 1995, after a twenty-year love affair with Italy, Alan Epstein fulfilled his dream to live in Rome. In As the Romans Do, he celebrates the spirit of this stylish, dramatic, ancient city that formed the hub of a far-flung empire and introduced the Mediterranean culture to the rest of the world. He also reveals today's Roman men and women in all their appealing contradictions: their gregarious caffe culture; inborn artistic flair; passionate appreciation of good food; instinctive mistrust of technology; showy sex appeal; ingrained charm and expressiveness; surprisingly unusual attitudes toward marriage and religion; and much, much more.Show book
