You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
Beethoven’s Skull is an unusual and often humorous survey of the many strange happenings in the history of Western classical music. Proving that good music and shocking tabloid-style stories make excellent bedfellows, it presents tales of revenge, murder, curious accidents, and strange fates that span more than two thousand years. Highlights include: A cursed song that kills those who hear it A composer who lovingly cradles the head of Beethoven’s corpse when his remains are exhumed half a century after his death A fifteenth-century German poet who sings of the real-life Dracula A dream of the devil that inspires a virtuoso violin piece Unlike many music books that begin their histories with the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries, Beethoven’s Skull takes the reader back to the world of ancient Greece and Rome, progressing through the Middle Ages and all the way into the twentieth century. It also looks at myths and legends, superstitions, and musical mysteries, detailing the ways that musicians and their peers have been rather horrible to one another over the centuries.
Second in a series about the adventures of a group of misfits at the edge of reality in modern northern England, a world of Nighttime Nasties, sorcery, intergalactic councils, tacky nightclub attire, Monty Pythonesque humor, and elves.
Make time for the things that really matter in life. Find balance and happiness in your daily life, the Scandinavian way, with The Scandinavian Guide to Happiness! There’s a reason Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden consistently rank as the top 5 happiest countries on earth! Find out the secrets to their happiness and fulfillment in The Scandinavian Guide to Happiness, which shares centuries of Nordic wisdom, including: - Lykke: Happiness is all around you (Denmark) - Lagom: Just the right amount—not too much, not too little (Sweden) - Fika: Taking daily coffee breaks and other comforting rituals (Sweden) - Hygge: Coziness brings comfort, courage, and happiness (Denmark) - Sisu: Everyday courage, grit, and determination & acting rationally in the face of adversity These basic principles will help you see how to have a happy life without buying anything, changing yourself, or making any other crazy drastic changes! Topics include Simplicity, Happiness, Health & Wellness, Relationships, Nature-Inspired Living, and more. Full of inspiring, encouraging ideas—and charming illustrations!—this thoughtful Scandinavian guide is sure to put a happy glow on your life.
The turn of the 20th century was a time of great change in Britain. The empire saw its global influence waning and its traditional social structures challenged. There was a growing weariness of industrialism and a desire to rediscover tradition and the roots of English heritage. A new interest in English folk song and dance inspired art music, which many believed was seeing a renaissance after a period of stagnation since the 18th century. This book focuses on the lives of seven composers--Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Ernest Moeran, George Butterworth, Philip Heseltine (Peter Warlock), Gerald Finzi and Percy Grainger--whose work was influenced by folk songs and early music. Each chapter provides an historical background and tells the fascinating story of a musical life.
Intricately plotted and surprisingly moving, THE BLUE HOUR is T. Jefferson Parker’s most compelling—and satisfying—thriller yet, from the NYT bestselling author and three-time Edgar Award winner. Tim Hess is a semi-retired homicide cop staring at his own death sentence—lung cancer. Time is running out. Thrice divorced and childless, Hess is the classic loner cop—so he’s happy to accept the difficult job offered to him: find and stop a serial killer who’s been abducting beautiful young women in Orange County. His new partner, and boss, is the brash, ambitious Merci Rayborn. She’s unpopular and unloved by her fellow cops, but she’s also relentless, smart and principled. Hess,...
Terror stalks the land of Ithlal. A great cosmic cycle is coming to an end, and the fate of all life is unknown as the fabric of reality comes undone and draws inward, to be recreated again. In this time of approaching chaos, someone has unleashed a terrible force that is destroying the land itself, and which can prevent the rebirth. And in the vast forests of Cernwood, the Vordlai, hideous winged creatures, have awakened from a centuries-old sleep, craving mortal blood and flesh. But the Land Spirit, the embodiment and Soul of all that is, will not willingly fade into oblivion. Its avatar has assembled a group of unlikely and unwilling heroes: an immortal who is half-human, a monk sworn to his vows, a reclusive forest dweller, a short tempered dwarf, and a young musical mage who unwittingly possesses a gemstone of unimaginable power. Together, they may be able to stop the growing darkness, but time is slipping away.
The CW's hit adaptation of Supergirl is a new take on the classic DC character for a new audience. With diverse female characters, it explores different versions of the female experience. No single character embodies a feminist ideal but together they represent attributes of the contemporary feminist conversation. This collection of new essays uses a similar approach, inviting a diverse group of scholars to address the many questions about gender roles and female agency in the series. Essays analyze how the series engages with feminism, Supergirl's impact on queer audiences, and how families craft the show's feminist narratives. In the ever-growing superhero television genre, Supergirl remains unique as viewers watch a female hero with almost godlike powers face the same struggles as ordinary women in the series.
The turn of the 20th century was a time of great change in Britain. The empire saw its global influence waning and its traditional social structures challenged. There was a growing weariness of industrialism and a desire to rediscover tradition and the roots of English heritage. A new interest in English folk song and dance inspired art music, which many believed was seeing a renaissance after a period of stagnation since the 18th century. This book focuses on the lives of seven composers--Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Ernest Moeran, George Butterworth, Philip Heseltine (Peter Warlock), Gerald Finzi and Percy Grainger--whose work was influenced by folk songs and early music. Each chapter provides an historical background and tells the fascinating story of a musical life.
Prepare to be baffled with The Big Book of Paranormal! Dive deep into urban legends, creepy hauntings, and tales of the unexplained with the Big Book of Paranormal. Featuring over 300 hair-raising, spine-chilling stories around Bigfoot, the Loch Ness, UFOs, aliens, curses, ghosts, and unsolved mysteries. Otherworldly illustrations and images bring these mystical and frightening tales to life and make the stories creep off the page. This is the perfect gift for the little ghost-hunter or paranormal enthusiast in your life!
What if everything you thought you knew was wrong? Well, it probably is. MISCONCEPTIONS explores some of the world’s most popular false facts and reveal unexpected truths that will shock even the most experienced brainiacs! MISCONCEPTIONS breaks down the world’s most widely believed lies, including: - You must wait 30 minutes after eating before you swim or you’ll drown. - Sugar makes children hyper. - Gum takes seven years to digest if you swallow it. - Ancient Greek sculptures were painted shades of white. - Lightning never strikes the same place twice. And that’s just scratching the surface! Deep within the pages of MISCONCEPTIONS, you’ll find pieces of information that will blow away your family, friends, and dinner date. Become the resident expert on history (Did George Washington really have wooden teeth?), wildlife (No, toads don’t really cause warts...), science (Are meteors actually on fire when they reach the Earth?), and more! With life-altering fun facts and hilarious explanations, this gift book will make learning enjoyable!