Other books that might interest you

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  We Tell Ourselves Stories - Joan...

  Alissa Wilkinson

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  In this riveting cultural biography, New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson examines Joan Didion's influence through the lens of American mythmaking. As a young girl, Didion was infatuated with John Wayne and his on-screen bravado, and was fascinated by her California pioneer ancestry and the infamous Donner Party. The mythos that preoccupied her early years continued to influence her work as a magazine writer and film critic in New York, offering glimmers of the many stories Didion told herself that would come to unravel over the course of her career. But out west, show business beckoned. 
   
   
   
  We Tell Ourselves Stories eloquently traces Didion's journey from New York to her arrival in Hollywood as a screenwriter at the twilight of the old studio system. She spent much of her adult life deeply embroiled in the glitz and glamour of the Los Angeles elite, where she acutely observed—and denounced—how the nation's fears and dreams were sensationalized on screen. Meanwhile, she paid the bills writing movie scripts like A Star Is Born, while her books propelled her to celestial heights of fame. 
   
   
   
  Peering through a scrim of celluloid, Wilkinson incisively dissects the cinematic motifs and machinations that informed Didion's writing—and how her writing, ultimately, demonstrated Hollywood's addictive grasp on the American imagination.

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  Bernini - His Life and His Rome

  Franco Mormando

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  Sculptor, architect, painter, playwright, and scenographer, Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680) was the last of the great universal artistic geniuses of early modern Italy, placed by both contemporaries and posterity in the same exalted company as Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo. And his artistic vision remains palpably present today, through the countless statues, fountains, and buildings that transformed Rome into the Baroque theater that continues to enthrall tourists today.It is perhaps not surprising that this artist who defined the Baroque should have a personal life that itself was, well, baroque. As Franco Mormando’s dazzling biography reveals, Bernini was a man driven by many passions, possessed of an explosive temper and a hearty sex drive, and he lived a life as dramatic as any of his creations. Drawing on archival sources, letters, diaries, and—with a suitable skepticism—a hagiographic account written by Bernini’s son (who portrays his father as a paragon of virtue and piety), Mormando leads us through Bernini’s many feuds and love affairs, scandals and sins. He sets Bernini’s raucous life against a vivid backdrop of Baroque Rome, bustling and wealthy, and peopled by churchmen and bureaucrats, popes and politicians, schemes and secrets.The result is a seductively readable biography, stuffed with stories and teeming with life—as wild and unforgettable as Bernini’s art. No one who has been bewitched by the Baroque should miss it.

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  Journey Through the Flames:...

  Sterling Hawthorne

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  Journey Through the Flames: Inside a Landmark Afghan Battle  
  ⭐⭐ Simplified Audio Guide ⭐⭐ 
  Are you eager to advance in your career and enrich your understanding of heroism and resilience amidst the Afghan conflict? 
  Looking for a comprehensive resource that offers all you need to explore these themes in depth? 
  Your journey starts here! 
  This audiobook is your definitive companion for deepening your insight, applying newfound knowledge, and engaging with compelling narratives of courage and tenacity. Get ready for an enlightening experience. 
  Enhanced Features of this Audiobook: 
  - Profound insights into the bravery and strength seen during the Afghan conflict 
  - Detailed accounts of significant events and figures in the battle 
  - Effective approaches to understanding and appreciating these stories 
  Our audiobook stands out for its in-depth exploration, crucial for anyone interested in this pivotal conflict. Stories are not just glossed over; they are examined with accuracy and depth. 
  Please note that this audiobook is produced independently and is crafted for your enlightenment. 
  With a clear and straightforward narrative, "Journey Through the Flames" ensures seamless transitions between captivating accounts. Say farewell to convoluted terminology and embrace clear, precise, and engaging content. 
  So, why wait? Click the BUY NOW button, secure your copy, and start your exploration of heroism and resilience amidst the Afghan conflict.

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  Book summary & analysis of...

  Briefly Summaries

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  This is a concise summary and analysis of Source Code, by Bill Gates. It is not the original book and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bill Gates. Ideal for those seeking a quick and insightful overview.
   
  Source Code is a compelling exploration of the foundational ideas, personal experiences, and pivotal choices that shaped one of the most influential figures in modern technology. Through a collection of letters, reflections, and anecdotes, the book delves into themes of curiosity, innovation, responsibility, and the ever-evolving relationship between humanity and technology. From early programming days to global health and climate change, it charts a journey of transformation—both personal and societal—offering a window into the thinking behind some of the world’s most impactful decisions.

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  Occupied - Civilian Life During...

  Davis Truman

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  Occupied: Civilian Life During World War II reveals the untold story of ordinary people living under extraordinary circumstances. Set in France during the Nazi occupation, this book brings to life the daily struggles, quiet acts of courage, and moral dilemmas faced by civilians caught between survival and resistance. 
  Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Occupied captures a world where scarcity shapes every meal, whispers replace open conversation, and even small choices carry weighty consequences. From families stretching rations and bartering for coal, to neighbors deciding whom they could trust, it paints an intimate portrait of life lived under constant watch. 
  This is not a history of generals and battlefields, but of kitchens, marketplaces, and hidden courtyards. It is the story of mothers and fathers, children and grandparents, whose endurance and humanity carried them through the darkest years of the twentieth century. 
  Occupied is both a moving testimony to resilience and an essential lens on the human cost of war, a reminder that behind every headline of conflict are countless lives forever altered by occupation.

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  Growing Up Rocky

  Patty Beecham

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  Written over 51 chapters, we follow the unusual family upbringing on an Aboriginal mission on Cape York. The family live apart for a year in three locations in Queensland as the father trains to become an Anglican priest at 44 years of age, and then they have to re-learn who to live again as a family under the one roof in Rockhampton.This is the true story of the youngest daughter of a Sydney couple living at Lockhart River Mission for 9 years, raising their children within an Aboriginal village of five tribes.Conceived on Cape York, and finally moving to Rockhampton as a young child. A family tragedy in 1971 with the shocking death of brother Chris, two days before a family wedding, sees the upheaval of family life.Patty feels abandoned and has to educate and raise herself as well as learn to iron a cassock!Patty brings herself up with her distracted parents, marries young and then flees a violent marriage. Patty dreamed of a bigger life than what was offered in her sleepy country town. Life became a series of ground-breaking adventures, and we follow her turbulent relationships and jobs, learning how to survive.Share her adventures in this gentle, humorous and insightful early memoir.

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