A Claxton Diary

A Claxton Diary PDF

Author: Mark Cocker

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2020-07-16

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781529111330

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"Every day Mark Cocker walks down to the river from his cottage on the edge of the Norfolk Broads, observing the other inhabitants of his parish. Here are blackbirds at their dawn chorus and owls ghosting down the dykes at last light. Here are unwedded queen ants pouring out of the pavement cracks for their nuptial flights, or a garden cross spider spraying a bumblebee with jets of silk that are, gram for gram, stronger than tensile steel. Vivid and dazzling, A Claxton Diary reminds us that we are all just members of one miraculous family, fashioned from sunlight and the dust of old stars"--Back cover.

Claxton

Claxton PDF

Author: Mark Cocker

Publisher:

Published: 2015-10-01

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9780099593478

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Shortlisted for the 2014 Thwaites Wainwright Prize Shortlisted for the 2014 New Angle Prize Shortlisted for the 2015 Society of Biology Book Award 'After Mark Cockerâe(tm)s glorious book, you will never look at a blackberry bush the same way again.' Philip Hoare, New Statesman In a single twelve-month cycle of daily writings Mark Cocker explores his relationship to the East Anglian landscape, to nature and to all the living things around him. The separate entries are characterised by close observation, depth of experience, and a profound awareness of seasonal change, both within in each distinct year and, more alarmingly, over the longer period, as a result of the changing climate. The writing is concise, magical, inspiring. Cocker describes all the wildlife in the village âe" not just birds, but plants, trees, mammals, hoverflies, moths, butterflies, bush crickets, grasshoppers, ants and bumblebees. The book explores how these other species are as essential to our sense of genuine well-being and to our feelings of rootedness as any other kind of fellowship. A celebration of the wonder that lies in our everyday experience, Cockerâe(tm)s book emphasises how Claxton is as much a state of mind as it is a place. Above all else, it is a manifesto for the central importance of the local in all human activity.

Uncommon Valor

Uncommon Valor PDF

Author: Melvin Claxton

Publisher: Wiley

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13:

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The gripping saga of the band of black soldiers who helped turn the tide of war After much agonizing, Christian Fleetwood, a free 23-year-old black man living in Baltimore during the Civil War, made a momentous and difficult decision: he enlisted. Uncommon Valor tells the dramatic story of Fleetwood and the other black farmers, laborers, and tradesmen who bravely risked their lives to end slavery and win respect for their race at a time when much of America shunned them. When the country that oppressed and despised them called them to serve, they became heroes of the highest order. Many of the events in this powerful tale of war, heroism, and liberation are seen through the eyes of those who lived through them, thanks to the detailed letters and diaries they left behind. Melvin Claxton (Detroit, MI), a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, and Mark Puls (Detroit, MI) are both investigative reporters with the Detroit News. -- Publishers description.

Shoot First (Caught Dead in Wyoming western mystery series, Book 3)

Shoot First (Caught Dead in Wyoming western mystery series, Book 3) PDF

Author: Patricia McLinn

Publisher: Craig Place Books

Published: 2014-07-06

Total Pages: 372

ISBN-13: 193921534X

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A Killing to Keep Old Wyoming Secrets and Treasures Death hits close to home for Elizabeth Danniher – or, rather, close to the Hovel, as she's dubbed her decrepit rental house. Her elderly neighbor kills a man apparently robbing her of Western artifacts. As a former top-flight national TV reporter, Elizabeth knows self-defense might satisfy the legal system, yet leave her neighbor in danger. Doing what she does best – asking questions – Elizabeth sidesteps her boss and a nosy, jealous anchorman to inquire into an eccentric and mysterious western billionaire, an ambitious curator, rival collectors, family feuds and Cottonwood County's Wild West crimes of a century ago. Digging deeper into these western murder mysteries, Elizabeth relies on her team of friends who are proving their investigative chops. Before this is over, Elizabeth will need every one of them – and the stray dog she's adopted – as her questions push someone to decide, that no matter who shot first, Elizabeth should die now. Don't miss Elizabeth Danniher's other adventures in western crime-solving with a dash of humor in: Sign Off Left Hanging Shoot First Last Ditch Look Live Back Story Cold Open Hot Roll Reaction Shot Body Brace Cross Talk Air Ready Cue Up Readers praise Shoot First: “McLinn's mysteries set in Wyoming are addictive. The writing is excellent, the twists and turns keep the brain engaged, and Elizabeth's wry commentary keeps a smile on my face.” "Beautifully written with delightful twists and turns in language." "So many mysteries to solve: a missing house from the 1800s, gold from a train robbery, a shooting, where to dig, a fire, will she/won't she . . . Who knew collecting old west memorabilia could be so exciting?" What readers are saying about the CAUGHT DEAD IN WYOMING series: “There's a real love for wide-open spaces in McLinn's writing, and it's a pleasure to visit the world she so beautifully creates. Can't wait for the next book(s)!” “E.M.’s internal monologues are sharp, snappy and often hilarious.” “Hoping this series lasts forever!” “McLinn has created in E.M. a female protagonist who is flawed but likable, never silly or cartoonish, and definitely not made of cardboard.” "A terrific series with a western flair. , , , , Great characters that you would want as your friends. Smart, funny, but not perfect." More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinn Secret Sleuth series Death on the Diversion Death on Torrid Avenue Death on Beguiling Way Death on Covert Circle Death on Shady Bridge Death on Carrion Lane Death on ZigZag Trail Death on Puzzle Place If you like Patricia’s mysteries, try her romantic suspense: The Innocence Trilogy Price of Innocence Proof of Innocence Premise of Innocence Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (includes cameos from Caught Dead in Wyoming characters) female sleuth, amateur detective, women detectives, traditional mystery, mystery with humor, mysteries with humor, humorous mysteries, mystery with dog, mystery with animal, American crime murder, women sleuths, traditional mystery, krimis, kriminalromane

This Is Not a Book

This Is Not a Book PDF

Author: Keri Smith

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2009-09-01

Total Pages: 226

ISBN-13: 0399535217

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From the internationally bestselling creator of Wreck This Journal, a curious, engaging, and creative rethinking of all the different things a book can be. In this uniquely skewed look at the purpose and function of a “book”, Keri Smith offers an illustrated guide that challenges readers to creatively examine all the different ways This Is Not a Book can be used. With intriguing prompts, readers will discover that the book can be: A secret message—tear out a page, write a note on it for a stranger, and leave it in a public place. A recording device—have everyone you contact today write their name in the book. An instrument—create as many sounds as you can using the book, like flipping the pages fast or slapping the cover. This Is Not a Book forces you to ask, “If it’s not a book, what is it then?”—with a kaleidoscope of possible answers.

Conversations with Dorothy Allison

Conversations with Dorothy Allison PDF

Author: Dorothy Allison

Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi

Published: 2012-05-09

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 1617032867

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Since the publication of her groundbreaking novel, Bastard Out of Carolina (1992), Dorothy Allison (b. 1949) has been known--as with Larry Brown and Lee Smith--as a purveyor of the "gritty" contemporary South that, in many ways, is worlds away from prevailing "Southern Gothic" representations of the region. Allison has frequently used her position, through passionate lectures and enthusiastic interviews, to give voice to issues dear to her: poverty, working-class life, domestic violence, feminism and women's relationships, the contemporary South, and gay/lesbian life. Often called a "writer-rock star" and a "cult icon," Allison is a true performer of the written word. At the same time, Allison also takes the craft of writing very seriously. In this collection, spanning almost two decades, Allison the performer and Allison the careful craftsperson both emerge, creating a portrait of a complex woman. The interviews detail Allison's working-class background in Greenville, South Carolina, as the daughter of a waitress. Allison discusses--with candor and quick wit--her upbringing, her work in a variety of modes (novels, short stories, essays, poetry), and her active participation in the women's movement of the 1970s. In the absence of a biography of Allison's life, Conversations with Dorothy Allison presents Allison's perspectives on her life, literature, and her conflictions over her role as a public figure. Linking her work with African American writers such as Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison, Allison pioneered the genre of working-class literature, writing a world that is often overlooked and under-studied.

Something's Fishy

Something's Fishy PDF

Author: Jeff Szpirglas

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers

Published: 2011-05-01

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 1554697875

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Jamie loves sharks. He reads about them. He talks about them. Sometimes he even pretends to be a shark. Too bad no one else wants to join his Shark Club. His peers and parents are quickly growing tired of his current obsession. When Jamie's teacher, Mr. Claxton, brings in a new class pet, Jamie is put in charge. But Jamie has an accident while feeding it, and everyone becomes upset with him. He needs to find a way to make things right. In the end, he comes up with a solution that pleases both his teacher and classmates, a solution that also gives Jamie an opportunity to share his newest obsession - lizards.

Next to Nature

Next to Nature PDF

Author: Ronald Blythe

Publisher: John Murray

Published: 2022-10-27

Total Pages: 633

ISBN-13: 1399804677

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'All the charm, wonder, eccentricity and vigour of country life is here in these pages, and told with such engaging directness, detail and colour . . . Bliss' STEPHEN FRY 'A capacious work that contains multitudes . . . a work to amble through, seasonally, relishing the vivid dashes of colour and the precision and delicacy of the descriptions' THE SPECTATOR 'My favourite read of the year . . . warm, funny and moving' SUNDAY TIMES 'A writer whose pages you turn and then turn back immediately to re-read, relish and get by heart' SUSAN HILL, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH Ronald Blythe lived at the end of an overgrown farm track deep in the rolling countryside of the Stour Valley, on the border between Suffolk and Essex. His home was Bottengoms Farm, a sturdy yeoman's house once owned by the artist John Nash. From here, Blythe spent almost half a century observing the slow turn of the agricultural year, the church year and village life in a series of rich, lyrical rural diaries. Beginning with the arrival of snow on New Year's Day and ending with Christmas carols sung in the village church, Next to Nature invites us to witness a simple life richly lived. With gentle wit and keen observation Blythe meditates on his life and faith, on literature, art and history, and on our place in the landscape. It is a celebration of one of our greatest nature writers, and an unforgettable ode to the English countryside.

Birds and People

Birds and People PDF

Author: Mark Cocker

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2014-03-17

Total Pages: 592

ISBN-13: 1448163471

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There are 10,500 species of bird worldwide and wherever they occur people marvel at their glorious colours and their beautiful songs. We also trap and consume birds of every kind. Yet birds have not just been good to eat. Their feathers, which keep us warm or adorn our costumes, give birds unique mastery over the heavens. Throughout history their flight has inspired the human imagination so that birds are embedded in our religions, folklore, music and arts. Vast in both scope and scale, Birds and People explores and celebrates this relationship and draws upon Mark Cocker’s 40 years of observing and thinking about birds. Part natural history and part cultural study, it describes and maps the entire spectrum of our engagements with birds, drawing in themes of history, literature, art, cuisine, language, lore, politics and the environment. In the end, this is a book as much about us as it is about birds. Birds and People has been stunningly illustrated by one of Europe’s best wildlife photographers, David Tipling, who has travelled in 39 countries on seven continents to produce a breathtaking and unique collection of photographs. The book is as important for its visual riches as it is for its groundbreaking content. Birds and People is also exceptional in that the author has solicited contributions from people worldwide. Personal anecdotes and stories have come from more than 650 individuals in 81 different countries. They range from university academics to Mongolian eagle hunters, and from Amerindian shamans to some of the most celebrated writers of our age. The sheer multitude of voices in this global chorus means that Birds and People is both a source book on why we cherish birds and a powerful testament to their importance for all humanity.