Roger Jackson is a grouch. He drinks too much with the wrong sorts of people. He dislikes where he lives—Beaumont, Texas, a small, humid southeast Texas town caught between a marsh and an impenetrable forest, between racial and social strife, between rival versions of Jesus. He dislikes his job—taking photos of cheating spouses. He dislikes his past. (He could have been a lawyer.) And now, he finds himself entangled in a crime. When the police find an aging ex-hippie dead from bullet wounds to the head and torso, they find Roger’s photos and want his help. Surrounded by a cast of colorful characters, Roger must do his job while maneuvering around the dangerous agendas of those around him. But the greatest obstacle is the recurring cocaine trail leading to Jewel McQueen, a small-time crook, who is guarded by his sociopathic brother, Sunshine McQueen, who hears voices from Jesus, Satan, and his mother. Jewell will stop at nothing—even murder—to keep his demented brother out of prison. Roger must leave the enclosed suburbs with their exclusive, prim, cleaned-up Jesus and cheap cocaine and liquor habits and, with his new partners, venture “behind the pine curtain,” into the deep Piney Woods with its wild, unruly Pentecostal Jesus and meth-lab economy and mentality.
Whether sprawled on barstools or preaching from pulpits, people need to make sense of their world, and in Jim Sanderson's world of West Texas, pulpits and barstools are where many of them do so. Sanderson himself stood for many years at a podium, teaching at a community college in Odessa, Texas. There, tired of academic papers and sometimes losing the distinction between fiction and nonfiction, he turned to the world around him to figure out the meaning (or meanings) of education and of culture itself. In a series of autobiographical ruminations, Sanderson develops the theme that frontier wildness is still alive, especially in West Texas, though it may be repressed by fundamentalist religion and conservative politics. West Texans, he finds, have to reconcile the two sides of their contrary natures: the farmer, best represented by the fundamental church, and the frontiersman, best represented by the sleazy bar. Through this theme of internal conflict, Sanderson weaves his experiences of art and censorship, Texas myths in film and fiction, the interaction of Hispanic culture with the culture of West Texas, contradictions posed by academic interests in vocational teaching institutions, intellectual elitism versus the real world, and West Texas women's definition and self-definition. Through the examples of his students, he shows how the quest for the West Texas myth--freedom, liberation, and fulfillment--is always transforming, whether for good or bad. In the end, he recognizes that his insights may tell more about himself than about West Texas, but by trying to make meaning out of his experience, he tells us something about the way all of us learn and think about ourselves.
Hard living, missed opportunities, and dogged persistence in the pursuit of impossible dreams are themes that help unite the linked stories in Jim Sanderson's fine new story cycle Faded Love. The characters Sanderson weaves in and out of these sometimes side-splitting, sometimes gut-wrenching stories are people whose poignantly-rendered lives resonate long after the last page has been turned.
A group of middle-aged men were drinking beer and telling false talse tales at an ice house in San Antonio's South Side. One of them was murdered in a restroom and the remaining men investigate.
The turbulent lower Rio Grande valley of the 1870s is the backdrop of this epic historical novel of romance, violence, and the struggle for civilization on the frontier. Against that backdrop protagonist Andrew Nevin, news-paper reporter, Civil War draft dodger, informer, and self-professed coward, tells a story of three legendary figures: Texas Rangers John "Rip" Ford and Lee H. McNelly and the bandit mayor of Matamoros, Juan Cortina.
Circling buzzards lead U.S. Border Patrol agent Dolph Martinez to the corpse of a man executed in the desert...a murder that shatters the fragile calm in a dusty, Texas town. His investigation pits him against the Mexican Army, the DEA, big-money Houston real estate interests, a Catholic nun who practices voodoo, a charismatic revolutionary wanted on both sides of the border, and perhaps deadliest of all, the demons from his own, tortured past.
In this series of linked short stories you will meet folk who inhabit the stark and wild countryside of West Texas, terrain that helps define them as well as the values that elicit many to behave in ways that will startle you. Here are only a few of the characters you will have the privilege of meeting: Otto, a boy who struggles with the slippery nature of words, is captured and tortured by Comanche raiders. Riding with the Comanches is Thomas Jefferson, a black man tries to help Otto. Deputy Sheriff Justan Brady tries in his inept way "to fix Danny Fowler's killing." Dee Price would willingly show you her knife scars as well as her mastectomy scars yet she is still capable of surprising you with her solution to the murder of Danny Fowler. Like many other characters in Trashy Behavior, you will meet Dee Price in more than one story. A young Gregory drives to a ranch to deliver a car to his boss's wife who tries to seduce him, then as he leaves, he runs into two men who blast his car with sawed-off shotguns. There are many other vividly-presented West Texans in the pages of this collection of stories, ones you will remember long after reading the book. While these are linked stories, you can read them in any order, and all of the tales will grab your attention and keep you turning pages. "Bankers"-the story featuring Gregory and his trouble delivering his boss's car-won Kay Cattrulla Award for Short Fiction presented by the Texas Institute of Letters for the best story by a Texan in 2012.
At this distance in time, the world of young people growing up in the fifties and sixties seems impossibly idyllic. Boys and girls roamed free, baseball and bicycles were the top summer activities, and no one worried about whether occasional hot dogs and french fries were healthy. Of all the places to spend a summer at a cottage, camp or lake, nowhere was as exotic as Toronto Island. Only a short ferry ride from the downtown, it was a world apart. Several hundred Toronto families had their summer vacation homes on the island. But the place also boasted a kind of midway, a beach that attracted exotic daytime visitors from the city, yacht clubs and fishermen. In this memoir, lifelong Torontonian Jim Sanderson takes readers back to the idyllic summers he spent at his family's cottage on the island in the 1950s and 1960s. For Jim and the other island kids, the woods, beaches and lagoons of the island were their playground. They camped in the woods, defended their beaches from the visiting "city slickers" and fished for the elusive, mythical Golden Carp in the lagoons. Jim Sanderson's experiences will echo those of any other Canadian who grew up in the same era, but with the special perspective of a young person on Toronto Island in the 1950s and 1960s, and on the nuances of the city's awkward relationship with the great recreational resource that the Toronto Island represents. With informal snapshot photos from Island residents of the period that illustrate the exquisite pleasures of island life, Toronto Island Summers takes readers back to a simpler time when nature, family and friendship reigned supreme.
Apples are not the only fruit in the new and used personal computer world. This huge and often bewildering market often includes a lot of lemons too Lemon-Aid Personal Computers is here to help buyers and sellers alike clinch the right deal at the right price and avoid being left with a sour taste in their mouths.
Gotham City 14 Miles offers the 1960s Batman TV series the critical reevaluation it deserves. Its essays examine Batmania, camp, the role of women, the show's participation in '60s counter-culture, its many celebrated actors, its lasting cultural effects, and other critical subjects.
When the Chicago Police Department are baffled by cases, they turn to Harry Dresden: private investigator and wizard! Armed with vast yet unrefined mystic skills, Dresden doggedly pursues every lead in his search for answers, crossing mobsters, renegade sorcerers, otherworldly monsters, and more! This second volume of The Dresden Files Omnibus collects three complete comic book series: "Ghoul Goblin," "War Cry," and "Down Town." These mind-blowing tales of Harry Dresden are set within official continuity, expanding Jim Butcher's rich universe with adventures never-before-seen in the novels!
During winter, dark days of wild storms can give way to the perfect, glistening stillness of frost-encrusted winter landscapes – it is the stuff of wonder and beauty, of nature at its utmost. In The Nature of Winter, Jim Crumley ventures into our countryside to experience firsthand the chaos and the quiet solitude of nature's rest period. He bears witness to the lives of remarkable animals such as golden eagles, red deer and even whales as they battle intemperate weather and the turbulence of climate change. In the snow Jim discovers ancient footsteps that lead him to reflect on the journey of his personal nature-writing life – a journey that takes in mountain legends, dear departed friends and an enduring fascination and deep love for nature. Simply, he evokes winter in all its drama, in all its pathos, in all its glory. "Connoisseurs of nature and good writing will be enthralled by his first-person wildlife encounters. His accounts...are written with dazzling clarity, lyrical tilt and a story-teller's skill." BBC Countryfile Magazine, Book of the Month "This book is all luminous moments, small delights and bright meditations drawn from the northern cold... there is deeply indigenous wisdom here... Crumley invites us to linger a while and witness frosty gifts made vivid by the warmth of his conversation." Miriam Darlington, BBC Wildlife Magazine "Inviting and informative...Crumley has earned himself the enviable position of our foremost nature commentator... Meditative... bewitching... outspoken... persuasive... a true winter's tale." Rosemary Goring, Herald "A very timely piece; it is a book full of passion and love for [the] natural world ... It celebrates nature... in all its glory." Sean Barrs, Disclaimer Magazine
The Year Book of Pulmonary Disease brings you abstracts of the articles that reported the year's breakthrough developments in pulmonary disease carefully selected from more than 500 journals worldwide. Expert commentaries evaluate the clinical importance of each article and discuss its application to your practice. Topics such as Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Lung Cancer, Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Lung Transplantation, Sleep Disorders, and Critical Care Medicine are represented highlighting the most current and relevant articles in the field.
Describing the components of lacrosse in a step-by-step fashion, author and coach Jim Hinkson clearly explains and illustrates the most effective ways of mastering individual skills for passing, catching, cradling, and checking, as well as tactics and strategies for winning team play. In addition, the book offers dozens of drills applicable to both coaches and players for refining these techniques and contains specific instruction for both the indoor and outdoor game. Written with precision by one of the world’s leading authorities on playing and coaching lacrosse and featuring numerous illuminating photographs and illustrations, Lacrosse Fundamentals is ideal for coaches, players, parents, and fans of the sport.
Former NHL star Bryan Berard shares the inspiring story of his life on and off the ice—from finding early success in the league and suffering a life-changing eye injury to discovering the inner strength to overcome whatever life threw at him and continue to play the game he loved. “My career is over,” I said. “I’m never going to play in the NHL again.” My mom turned to me, a stern look on her face. “‘Never’ does not exist in our family’s vocabulary.” On March 11, 2000, Bryan Berard’s life changed forever. One moment, he was a young hockey star, a former first overall pick and Olympian who had a long, bright career ahead of him. The next, he was writhing on the ice, his eye slashed by a wayward stick. The doctors feared Bryan might lose his eye. It seemed certain that he would never play hockey again. But ever since his childhood, Bryan had refused to believe that anything was impossible. With the support of his family behind him and his own inner determination driving him forward, Bryan not only recovered, but made a triumphant return to the NHL just two years after his injury. It seemed that the worst was behind him. But there were storm clouds on the horizon. Injuries continued to plague him throughout the rest of his career, which saw him move from North America to Russia to continue to play the game he loved. Reports of steroid use cast a shadow over his accomplishments. And then, just as he was about to retire, Berard learned that his long-time financial adviser had defrauded him, several other hockey stars, and others out of millions of dollars in life savings. Despite every setback, though, Berard refused to give up. He nearly lost an eye, but he never lost sight of what was most important in his life. Funny, honest, and inspiring, Berard’s memoir is a tribute to the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit.
Surveys the history of the whaling industry from its earliest days to the present, focusing on the young boys who managed to sign on for whaling voyages.
Nature Unbound' is an examination of the rise of protected areas and their current social and economic position in our world. It examines the social impacts of protected areas, the conflicts that surround them, the alternatives to them and the conceptual categories they impose.
Documentary focusing on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit, a high-speed track which started out as the perimeter of an RAF base during World War II. The programme covers Goodwood's history from its creation through to the present day.
The Movie Moon is a collection of award-winning stories set in the American South during the last half of the 20th Century. The scenarios range from the tobacco fields of Middle Tennessee, to the grim interior of an Alabama prison, to the Louisiana bayous. The characters are heroes and villains and ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. In the end, the one recurring character is the South, herselfthat blessed plot, that complex, diverse, and justifiably proud region.
Whether they are riding the range under a blazing Texas sun or a cool Montana moon, or working on a hollywood sound stage, cowboys and cowgirls can work up a hearty appetite. Real cowboys can ride, shoot, rope…and cook! The All-American Cowboy Cookbook is filled to the brim with favorite recipes from the country's most famous western stars from the Silver Screen and television to rodeo heroes and cooks on real working ranches. The collection also features recipes from some of the best cowboy balladeers ever to lasso a microphone. In The All-American Cowboy Cookbook, you’ll find delicious recipes including: John Wayne’s Famous Grits James Arness’ Gunsmokin’ Chili Clint Eastwood’s Western Spaghetti Roy Rogers’ Chicken and Dumplings James Garner’s Chilies Rellenos Walter Brennan’s Clam Chowder Gene Autry’s Peanut Butter Pie Inside, you will find a variety of cowboy traditional dishes as well as cherished family recipes from?Annie Oakley?star Gail Davis and a breakfast delight from Gregory Peck. Singers George Strait, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Michael Martin Murphey are among those who have shared their mouth-watering recipes. Your taste buds will giddy up for recipes from Brooks & Dunn, Patsy Montana, Randolph Scott, the Sons of the Pioneers and a corral full of more than 150 other cowboy stars. Loaded with nearly 200 classic photographs and saddlebags full of Old West memories and fun trivia teasers, The All-American Cowboy Cookbook is sure to cause a stampede to the dinner table when you holler, "Come and git it!
Follow Boone’s journey as he stumbles into adulthood in this ebook box set of the Boone Series (Books One through Five). From the disintegration of Boone’s family early in Book One, forcing him into an adult world he’s not at all ready for, through the next five years and the beginnings of his understanding the real meaning of family in Book Five, this first person account of an Appalachian teenager looks at the world through his eyes. A coming of age series that shows Boone struggling to move beyond his relationship with his abusive father and make his own way in a world that at first he doesn’t understand, “Stumbling Into Adulthood” is sometimes dark but ultimately hopeful as it shows a young man coming into his own. Included: The first five books in the series essays by Sandra Jessel, Tilmer Wright, Jr., Ann Hatmaker, and the author Bios and acknowledgements
Texans will use any excuse to have fun! Pull up a chair and let a legendary Texas storyteller take you on a yearlong tour to 1,600 of his favorite fun Texas events in over 600 towns.
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