![]() The main strengths of the work are Gibbon's clever and (dare I say) sublime command of the English language, his impressive wit, his astute observations and analysis of the political significance of major events, his keen perception of the levers of power in Roman society, his awareness of the human condition during what he describes rather bluntly as one of the most awful eras in history, and his genuine appreciation for the consternation of a people subject to the whims and caprice of all-powerful monarchs. The "Decline and Fall" can be best described as a brilliantly written exposition of Gibbon's views on events after the death of Marcus Aurelius and how these contributed to the downfall of the Roman empire, interwoven within a chronological narrative alongside colorful anecdotes and digressions. This audiobook is absolutely phenomenal-and I have much to say about that-but let me first be clear about what this book is and what it is not. Masterpiece - Best Audiobook I’ve Listened To ![]()
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![]() ![]() Whether exploring the history of the female nude or the status of oil paint, his landmark series showed how art revealed the social and political systems in which it was made. ![]() According to James Bridle, Berger "didn't just help us gain a new perspective on viewing art with his 1972 series Ways of Seeing – he also revealed much about the world in which we live. The series was intended as a response to Kenneth Clark's Civilisation TV series, which represents a more traditionalist view of the Western artistic and cultural canon, and the series and book criticise traditional Western cultural aesthetics by raising questions about hidden ideologies in visual images. It was broadcast on BBC Two in January 1972 and adapted into a book of the same name. Ways of Seeing is a 1972 television series of 30-minute films created chiefly by writer John Berger and producer Mike Dibb. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Give to fans of emotional, thought-provoking, nature inspired horror like The Only Good Indians (2020) by Stephen Graham Jones or Wonderland (2020) by Zoje Stage. The story is told from multiple points of view, allowing the reader to see that the real threat may be human hubris, which adds a depth and beauty to a story that could have been centered around carnage. An American documentarian travels a haunted highway across the frozen tundra of Siberia in New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden’s Road of Bones, a tightly wound, atmospheric, and creepy as hell (Stephen King) supernatural thriller. ![]() Opening with a high anxiety sequence and relentlessly building on the ceaseless terror and unrelenting cold, Golden places the fear front and center. ![]() At the edge of the forest appears a parnee, which is a shaman, and his animal spirit army, and they are not happy. When Tieg and his best friend/cameraman get to what they thought was their final destination, they find that every villager has fled into the uninhabitable forest, all except one traumatized girl. The cold is so intense, people can only survive for minutes outside. Documentary producer Tieg is travelling the Kolyma Highway through Siberia to scout a village for his next project. Golden’s ( Red Hands, 2020) latest is a horror-thriller hybrid that will chill even the most jaded readers. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Because now that they have nothing to lose, they’re finally being themselves-and having fun with the last person they expect: each other. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.īut with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Naomi wants out, but there’s a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the non-refundable wedding bill. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. ![]() ![]() Of course, his connection to this song isn’t random it’s a powerful and personal one which informs and inspires his rendition. ![]() They represent, as Ry Cooder said in these pages, a high point in the artistry of the American song.Īnd hearing James Taylor, a beloved huckleberry friend in our lives for decades, sing “Moon River” alone is so poignantly right. This album and his genuine love for these timeless treasures goes a long way in reminding the world how much beauty lives forever in these songs. JT’s reverence for the traditions of great song craft, grace and magic in the remarkable melodies and lyrics on every page of the Great American Songbook is palpable in every measure of these songs. ![]() ![]() □ Winner, Best Traditional/Pop Vocal Album! □ #GRAMMYs #AmericanStandard /JNlZChWhSh- James Taylor MaJames Taylor accepting his Grammy yesterday for American Standard from the snowy ski slopes. ![]() ![]() Priest might be an insufferable ass, but his mere presence made all kinds of fantasies run riot. No gay man alive could resist that offer. Not to mention give him the extra dose of courage he needed for the sheet-gripping sex he knew these two would deliver.įrom the moment Priest had picked up the phone tonight, Robbie had been hard, and when Julien had flat-out told him that they wanted him- Robbie Bianchi-naked in between them? Forget it. It was a place Robbie knew he’d enjoy a whole damn lot if he could get rid of the niggling voice in the back of his head, and the final drink should help with that. God, it was a rush to be caught in the middle of them. ![]() His eyes fastened on Robbie like some sort of tractor beam. He could feel Julien’s eyes on his ass as he went, so Robbie made sure to add an extra swing to his hips, and every now and then, when people shifted a certain way, the lights flashed up and he caught sight of Priest standing where he’d been since entering the club. But as he weaved his way through the dancers on the floor, his mission was clear: find Elliot. ![]() I can’t believe I’m fucking doing this, Robbie thought. Anyone who doesn’t love Starship scares me. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Who are The Ancient Nine? And why is Spencer - along with his best friend, Dalton Winthrop - summoned to the deathbed of Dalton’s uncle just as Spencer is being punched for the club? What does the lore about a missing page from one of Harvard’s most historic books mean? And how does it connect to religion, murder, and to the King James Bible, if not to King James himself? Because at the heart of the Delphic, secured deep inside its guarded mansion club, is another secret society: a shadowy group of powerful men known as The Ancient Nine. The Delphic Club is known as “The Gas” for its crest of three gas-lit flames, and as Spencer is considered for membership, he’s plunged not only into the secret world of male privilege that The Gas represents, but also into a century-old club mystery. But Spencer is about to be introduced to the most mysterious inner sanctum of the inner sanctum: To his surprise, he’s in the running to be “punched” for one of Harvard’s elite final clubs. The friends he’s made when he hits the storied, ivy-clad campus from a very different life in urban Chicago are a happy bonus. Spencer Collins thinks his life at Harvard will be all about basketball and pre-med, hard workouts and grinding work in class. ![]() This program includes an introduction read by the author. ![]() ![]() Although this image is partly true, the reality was different for most foreign legionnaires. Think Beau Geste (or even Carry on, Follow that Camel!). A dogged soldier, almost certainly running away from his past, in a dark uniform, kepi on his head, linen curtain hanging down over his neck at the back, marching through the deserts of North Africa. Mention the Foreign Legion to most people, and an image will flash into their mind. From its beginnings, it has been shadowy taking recruits from virtually anywhere, although some of the wilder legends are probably just that legends. Over the years, it has worked hard to remain secretive and closed to the outside world. ![]() The French Foreign Legion is one of those organisations that has achieved almost mythical status. ![]() ![]() There are numerous scenes of adventure, composed of either a conflict with a native or a conflict with the environment, including The second leg is to link up the other explorers. ![]() The book describes the unknown interior of Africa near modern-day Central African Republic as a desert, when it is actually savanna.Ī good deal of the initial exploration is to focus on the finding of the source of the Nile. The trip begins in Zanzibar on the east coast, and passes across Lake Victoria, Lake Chad, Agadez, Timbuktu, Djenné and Ségou to St Louis in modern-day Senegal on the west coast. Samuel Fergusson, accompanied by his manservant Joe and his friend professional hunter Richard "Dick" Kennedy, sets out to travel across the African continent - still not fully explored - with the help of a balloon filled with hydrogen. The Copyright page has been placed at the end of the book, as to not impede the content and flow of the book.Ī scholar and explorer, Dr. Properly formatted for aesthetics and ease of reading.Ĭustom Table of Contents and Design elements for each chapter Proper paragraph formatting with Indented first lines and Justified Paragraphs ![]() Available in multiple formats: eBook, original paperback, large print paperback, hardcover and audiobook ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This revelatory theme is consistent throughout the issue as we learn Loki’s worst nightmare and his true feelings for his current place in the world. We open this issue to a moment between a young Loki and his adoptive father Odin where Loki’s first lie is revealed. Yet it still has plenty of room for heartfelt moments. The story telling in this issue really seems to be on point and connects with its audience well by delivering some much needed action and humor. Daniel Kibblesmith has done a great job in highlighting Loki’s ability to outsmart even the readers by tying together his seemingly innocent actions from previous issues to unveil a crafty strategy against Nightmare. Loki #4 is the issue that fans of the mischievous god have been waiting for. ![]() |