Deborah Smith Boeken

Ursula Powell en Quentin Riconni zijn min of meer tegelijkertijd opgegroeid - hij in New York, zijn in het zuidelijke provincieplaatsje Bear Mountain dat zij, inmiddels volwassen, verlaten heeft. Ursula keert na de dood van haar vader teug naar haar ouderlijk huis, een vervallen boerderij. Ze heeft er de zorg voor Arthur, haar autistische broer die erg verknocht is aan de Beer, een enorme ijzeren sculptuur van een beer, die Ursula's vader ooit heeft gekocht en die nu op hun erf staat. Quentin Riconni is in zijn jeugd zijn vader langzaam gaan haten. Een vader die, ver weg van zijn gezin, zo nodig de kunstenaar uit moest hangen, terwijl zijn vrouw en zoon in armoede leefden. Inmiddels is Quentin een afstandelijke, doch succesvolle architect die met weinig vreugde de onbetaalbare nalatenschap van zijn vader beheert. Wanneer de Beer, het vroegste kunstwerk van zijn vader, dat lange tijd verdwenen leek, in Bear Mountain blijkt te staan, weet Quentin dat hij dit werk zal moeten terughalen, wil zijn leven - en dat van zijn moeder - weer enige zin krijgen. Dus komt Quentin naar Bear Mountain - en naar Ursula - om de ijzeren beer te kopen en mee te nemen. Maar de Beer is vergroeid met het bergstadje, met de mensen, en vooral met Arthur, de met de Beer 'praat'. Het weghalen van het kunstwerk zou hem terugvoeren naar de stilte van zijn autisme. In Bear Mountain ontmoeten Quentin en Ursula elkaar, twee bijzondere persoonlijkheden, vechtend voor wat hen lief is. Tussen hen zal een band onstaan die sterker is dan alle verdriet en pijn van het verleden.

A hidden truth holds the potential to rescue a life, intertwining the fates of two characters. As they navigate a web of secrets and revelations, the stakes rise, leading to a gripping exploration of trust, sacrifice, and the power of love. The narrative delves into the complexities of their relationship, highlighting how vulnerability can lead to unexpected strength in the face of danger.

Compulsively readable, universally relevant and deeply resonant... It lacerates, it haunts, it dreams, it mourns... 'Human Acts' is, in equal parts, beautiful and urgent.-New York Times Book Review Human Acts is unique in the intensity and scale of this brutality... [T]he novel details a bloody history that was deliberately forgotten and is only now being recovered.-The Nation [Han Kang's] new novel, Human Acts, showcases the same talent for writing about corporeal horrors, this time in the context of the 1980 Gwangju uprising.-TIME Magazine Han Kang's Human Acts speak the unspeakable. -Vanity Fair The long wake of the killings plays out across the testimonies of survivors as well as the dead, in scenarios both gorily real and beautifully surreal.-Vulture Human Acts is stunning. Book reviews evaluate how well a book does what it sets out to do, and so we sometimes write nice things about books that perfectly fulfill trivial aims. Otherwise, we'd always be complaining that romance novels or political thrillers fail to justify the ways of God to men. But Han Kang has an ambition as large as Milton's struggle with God: She wants to reconcile the ways of humanity to itself.-NPR.org Engrossing... The result is torturously compelling, a relentless portrait of death and agony that never lets you look away. Han's prose-as translated by Deborah Smith-is both spare and dreamy, full of haunting images and echoing language. She mesmerizes, drawing you into the horrors of Gwangju; questioning humanity, implicating everyone... Unnerving and painfully immediate.-Los Angeles Times Revelatory ... nothing short of breathtaking... In the end, what Han has re- created is not just an extraordinary record of human suffering during one particularly contentious period in Korean history, but also a written testament to our willingness to risk discomfort, capture, even death in order to fight for a cause or help others in times of need.-San Francisco Chronicle But where Kang excels is in her unflinching, unsentimental descriptions of death. I am hard pressed to think of another novel that deals so vividly and convincingly with the stages of physical decay. Kang's prose does not make for easy reading, but there is something admirable about this clear-eyed rendering of the end of life.-Boston Globe Absorbing... Han uses her talents as a storyteller of subtlety and power to bring this struggle out of the middle distance of 'history' and into the intimate space of the irreplaceable human individual.-Minneapolis Star-Tribune Kang explores the sprawling trauma of political brutality with impressive nuance and the piercing emotional truth that comes with masterful fiction... a fiercely written, deeply upsetting, and beautifully human novel.-Kirkus Reviews Kang is an incredible storyteller who raises questions about the purpose of humanity and the constant tension between good and evil through the heartbreaking experiences of her characters. Her poetic language shifts fluidly from different points of view, while her fearless use of raw, austere diction emulates the harsh conflicts and emotions raging throughout the plot. This jarring portrayal of the Gwangju demonstrations will keep readers gripped until the end.-Booklist (starred) With Han Kang's The Vegetarian awarded the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, her follow-up will garner extra scrutiny. Bottom line? This new work, again seamlessly translated by Deborah Smith, who also provides an indispensable contextual introduction, is even more stupendous.-Library Journal (starred) Pristine, expertly paced, and gut-wrenching... Human Acts grapples with the fallout of a massacre and questions what humans are willing to die for and in turn what they must live through. Kang approaches these difficult and inexorable queries with originality and fearlessness, making Human Acts a must-read for 2017.-Chicago Review of Books Though her subject matt

The MacBrides return home for good, bringing with them a mixture of nostalgia and unresolved issues. As they settle back into their familiar surroundings, family dynamics are tested, and old rivalries resurface. The narrative explores themes of belonging, reconciliation, and the challenges of adapting to change, all while highlighting the warmth and complexities of family life. Throughout their journey, the characters confront their pasts and strive to forge a new future together.

A toolbox of positive principles, tips and techniques for the ultimate self-care.Science tells us that happiness is 50% genetic, 10% circumstantial and 40% how we think and act. Which means that it is possible to increase our happiness by up to 40%.For anyone wanting to increase their wellbeing, Grow Your Own Happiness shows how positive psychology - the science of happiness- can be used every day. With key principles explained to provide the foundation for change, tests for measuring wellbeing and simple techniques that can easily be applied to a busy lifestyle, as well as case studies, anecdotes and tips, this book provides everything you need to shine.

Set in the charming town of Mossy Creek, this book invites readers to explore the lives of its residents, each with their own unique stories and connections. The narrative weaves together themes of community, friendship, and personal growth, showcasing how the characters navigate life's challenges and joys. Through heartwarming interactions and relatable experiences, the book paints a vivid picture of small-town life, emphasizing the bonds that tie people together and the sense of belonging that comes from home.

After a devastating car accident leaves a once-glamorous movie star scarred and reeling, she retreats to her grandmother's mountain home in North Carolina. Struggling with her shattered self-esteem, she faces the challenge of isolation until her determined cousin intervenes. Complications arise as a charming neighbor, who harbors his own troubles, becomes involved, leading to unexpected connections and the possibility of healing. The story explores themes of resilience, self-acceptance, and the power of relationships in overcoming personal struggles.

When a mysterious woman in emerald silk crashes his penthouse party, lures him to the roof, and kidnaps him, billionaire Douglas Kincaid finds his anger melting into desire for his lovely jailer

Haunted by a past filled with poverty and abuse, Amy Miracle finds escape and release in the vineyards of Georgia--and in Sebastian de Savin, a brilliant and arrogant surgeon whose own past has hardened his heart. Amy finally breaks through de Savin's shell and teaches him to love and laugh again, and Sebastian helps Amy blossom into a magnificent woman.

Set against the backdrop of a warm, inviting porch, this narrative invites readers to pause and reflect on the simple joys of life. It explores themes of community, connection, and the beauty of everyday moments, encouraging a slower pace and deeper appreciation for relationships. Through engaging storytelling, it captures the essence of shared experiences and the wisdom gleaned from conversations that unfold in a cozy, familiar setting.