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Vesper Flights
by Helen MacdonaldFrom the bestselling author of H is for Hawk, a brilliant and insightful work about our relationship to the natural worldOur world is a fascinating place, teeming not only with natural wonders that defy description, but complex interactions that create layers of meaning. <P><P>Helen Macdonald is gifted with a special lens that seems to peer right through it all, and she shares her insights--at times startling, nostalgic, weighty, or simply entertaining--in this masterful collection of essays. From reflections on science fiction to the true story of an Iranian refugee's flight to the UK, Macdonald has a truly omnivorous taste when it comes to observations of both the banal and sublime. <P><P>Peppered throughout are reminisces of her own life, from her strange childhood in an estate owned by the Theosophical Society to watching total eclipses of the sun, visits to Uzbek solar power plants, eccentric English country shows, and desert hunting camps in the Gulf States. These essays move from personal experiences into wider meditations about love and loss and how we build the world around us. Whether more journalistic in tone, or literary--even formally experimental--each piece is generous, lyrical, and speaks to one another. <P><P>Macdonald creates a strong thematic undertow that quietly takes the reader along piece to piece and sets them down, finally, at a place they've never been before. <P><P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Vesper Flights
by Helen MacdonaldThe New York Times–bestselling author of H is for Hawk explores the human relationship to the natural world in this “dazzling” essay collection (Wall Street Journal).In Vesper Flights, Helen Macdonald brings together a collection of her best loved essays, along with new pieces on topics ranging from nostalgia for a vanishing countryside to the tribulations of farming ostriches to her own private vespers while trying to fall asleep.Meditating on notions of captivity and freedom, immigration and flight, Helen invites us into her most intimate experiences: observing the massive migration of songbirds from the top of the Empire State Building, watching tens of thousands of cranes in Hungary, seeking the last golden orioles in Suffolk’s poplar forests. She writes with heart-tugging clarity about wild boar, swifts, mushroom hunting, migraines, the strangeness of birds’ nests, and the unexpected guidance and comfort we find when watching wildlife.
Vessel: A Memoir
by Cai Chongda“Essential reading for anyone interested in contemporary life in China, and highly recommended for memoir enthusiasts in general.” -- Library Journal (starred review)"Chongda paints a tantalizing portrait of a changing China in his dazzling English-language debut. [Vessel] shines with the bright talent of an excellent storyteller." -- Publishers WeeklyAn unprecedented and heartfelt memoir that illuminates the lives of rural Chinese workers, offering a portrait of generational strife, family, love, and loss that crosses cultures and time.Cai Chongda spent his childhood in a rural fishing village in Fujian province. When his father—a former communist gang leader turned gas station owner—has a stroke that partially paralyzes him, his responsibilities fall to Cai, his only son. Assuming his new role as head of the family, Cai toils alongside his mother and older sister to pay the medical bills that have become a part of a rapidly changing Chinese society. As Cai works his way through university and moves to Beijing, eventually becoming the editorial director of GQ China, he finds his life increasingly at odds with the family he supports but has left behind.Like The Glass Castle and Hillbilly Elegy, Vessel neither romanticizes nor condemns the people and circumstances that shaped a young man’s life, but instead offers a way forward, revealing how tradition can enrich modern life. Translated from the Chinese by Dylan Levi King
Vessels: A Love Story
by Daniel RaeburnAn unforgettable portrait of a marriage tested to its limits. When Dan, a writer with a passion for underground comics, and his wife Bekah, a potter dedicated to traditional Japanese ceramics, met through a mutual friend, they swiftly fell in love. “Of all the women I’ve ever met,” Dan told a friend, “she’s the first one who felt like family.” But at Christmas, as they prepared for the birth of their first child, tragedy struck. Based on Daniel Raeburn’s acclaimed New Yorker essay, Vessels: A Love Story is the story of how he and Bekah clashed and clung to each other through a series of unsuccessful pregnancies before finally, joyfully, becoming parents. In prose as handsomely unadorned as his wife’s pottery, Raeburn recounts a marriage cemented by the same events that nearly broke it. Vessels is an unflinching, enormously moving account of intimacy, endurance, and love.
Vessels: A Memoir of What Wasn't
by Daniel RaeburnAn unforgettable portrait of a marriage tested to its limits.When Dan, a writer with a passion for underground comics, and his wife Bekah, a potter dedicated to traditional Japanese ceramics, met through a mutual friend, they swiftly fell in love. "Of all the women I've ever met," Dan told a friend, "she's the first one who felt like family." But at Christmas, as they prepared for the birth of their first child, tragedy struck.Based on Daniel Raeburn's acclaimed New Yorker essay, Vessels: A Memoir of What Wasn't is the story of how the couple clashed and clung to each other through a series of unsuccessful pregnancies before finally, joyfully, becoming parents. In prose as handsomely unadorned as his wife's pottery, Raeburn recounts a marriage cemented by the same events that nearly broke it.Vessels is an unflinching, enormously moving account of intimacy, endurance and love.
The Vet: the Big Wild World
by Luke GambleLuke Gamble cut his teeth as a mixed practice vet in the West Country. Now it's time to see if he can stand on his own two feet. Wild stallions, drowning cows and constipated snakes aside, Luke's challenges have only just begun.
The Vet: My Wild and Wonderful Friends
by Luke GambleFresh out of university Luke joins a mixed practice in Dorset, run by the stern but benevolent Mr Spotswode and is quickly thrust into the real world of veterinary medicine: truculent farmers, out-of-hours-surgery, nasty biting squirrels, operating on frog's eyeballs and some of the harsher facts of farming life like dealing with an outbreak of foot and mouth and subsequent slaughter. Luke's dream is to set up on his own and find his place in the world. These things, however, are never quite straightforward. Across the course of this memoir, the young vet not only learns much about his trade, but about his own character - and develops a group of close friends - both animal and human - who will stay with his across his career. The most important of these is Cordelia - the woman of his dreams - his quest to win her heart is a marathon!
The Vet 1: my wild and wonderful friends
by Luke Gamble'Luke Gamble is a West Country treasure. Like Dr Doolittle, but real!' MARTIN CLUNESFresh out of university, vet Luke Gamble joined a mixed practice in Dorset, run by the stern but benevolent Mr Spotswode. He found himself quickly thrust into the real world of veterinary medicine: truculent farmers, out-of-hours-surgery, nasty biting squirrels, operating on frog's eyeballs and some of the harsher facts of farming life, like dealing with a tragic outbreak of foot and mouth. Luke dreams of setting up his own practice, and finding his place in the big wild world. These dreams, however, are never quite as straightforward as they may seem. In the first instalment of his memoir, the young vet not only learns much about his trade, but also learns a lot about himself, along the way developing a group of close friends, both animal and human. The most important of these is Cordelia - the woman of his dreams - and his quest to win her heart is a marathon.Warm-hearted, witty and full of weird and wonderful tales, The Vet is the perfect read for animal lovers.
The Vet 2: The Big Wild World
by Luke GambleLuke Gamble is a West Country treasure. Like Dr Doolittle, but real!' MARTIN CLUNESLuke Gamble cut his teeth as a mixed practice vet in the West Country. Now it's time to see if he can stand on his own two feet. Wild stallions, drowning cows and constipated snakes aside, Luke's challenges have only just begun. He's come a long way from the fresh-faced graduate vet we met in The Vet 1: my wild and wonderful friends. He's marrying the girl of his dreams while launching his own practice, Pilgrims. On top of that, he's managing his international veterinary charity and two other veterinary businesses. On his extreme travels around the world, Luke dodges hippos and chimps, and swaps the familiar farms of home for the refugee camps of Africa, all on his quest to make a difference.But Luke is more than just an international vet. He's also a husband, a friend, an entrepreneur and, potentially, an Ironman triathlete. Does he have what it takes to juggle it all?For fans of Arthur and Supervet, The Vet 2: the big wild world is an exhilarating, inspiring and moving adventure that animal lovers and thrill seekers will adore.
Vet at the End of the Earth: Adventures with Animals in the South Atlantic
by Jonathan HollinsThe passionate story of a vet&’s care for all creatures great and small in the colorful, diverse, and distinctive South Atlantic islands.The role of a resident vet in the remote islands of the Falklands, St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha encompasses many wonderful complexities: caring for the world&’s oldest living land animal (a 200-year-old giant tortoise, denizen of the St. Helena governor&’s lawn); pursuing mystery creatures and invasive microorganisms; relocating herds of reindeer; and rescuing animals in extraordinarily rugged landscapes, from subtropical cloud forests to volcanic cliff faces. Hugely entertaining and affectionate, Jonathan Hollins&’s tales of island vet life are not only full of ingenuity and astounding fauna—they are also steeped in the unique local cultures, history, and peoples of the islands, far from the hustle of continental life. Come join Jonathan on his daily adventures with these alluring and fascinating creatures.
Vet In Harness
by James HerriotThe Yorkshire dales have never seemed more beautiful for James - now he has a lovely wife by his side, a partner's plate on the gate and the usual menagerie of farm animals, pets and owners demanding his constant attention and teaching him a few lessons along the way. All of the old Darrowby friends are on top form - Siegfried thrashes round the practice, Tristan occasionally buckles down for finals, and James is signed up for a local cricket team.
Vet In A Spin
by James HerriotJames Herriot, strapped into the cockpit of a Tiger Moth trainer, feels rather out of place, but he hasn't found a new profession and it surely won't be long before the RAF come round to his point of view. James Herriot's sixth volume of unforgettable memoirs sees him dreaming of the day when he can rejoin his wife, Helen, little son, Jimmy, veterinary partner, Siegfried, the eternal student Tristan - and all the old Darrowby crows, both two-legged and four.
Vet on Call: My First Year as an Out-of-Hours Vet
by Marc AbrahamWhen his father sat him down and told him to 'make something' of himself, young vet Marc Abraham decided to do it the hard way - by setting up an emergency 'out of hours' clinic. If getting used to the long night shifts wasn't bad enough, emergency cases are rarely straightforward. Whether it was dog who swallowed golf balls, or a gerbil in urgent need of a caesarean, every case had the potential for heartbreak. But animals and their owners could also be hilarious, such as the breeder who unwittingly gave his German Shepherd four testicles. . .Over the course of twelve tough months, the clinic began to flourish. Would Marc finally make something of himself after all?Marc Abraham writes guilelessly about his early mistakes, and the terror and joy involved in saving an animal's life. His memoir is a heart-warming, compelling and thoroughly entertaining look at the life of a vet on call.
Veteran Volunteer: Memoir of the Trenches, Tanks & Captivity, 1914–1919
by Jamie VansFrank Vans Agnew left America in 1914 and claiming to be 40 (rather than 46) enlisted in 2nd King Edward's Horse. He arrived in France in 1915 at Festubert and was given a commission. After attending the Machine Gun School he was at the Somme before volunteering for the Tank Corps. In 1917 he was wounded at Messines, where he won his MC. He demonstrated his tank for King George. He fought at 3rd Ypres and was wounded and captured at Cambrai in November 1917. Over the next 12 months he was held as a POW at Hanover, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg and Fstenberg.His extraordinary and varied experiences are superbly recorded in this memoir.As featured in Isle of Wight County Press and on BBC Radio Bristol.
Veterinarian (Cool Helping Careers)
by William David ThomasKeeping animals healthy is no easy job. Unlike people, animals have different bodies. Besides dogs and cats, vets need to know how to treat diseases that affect all kinds of pets-from hamsters and ferrets to lizards and snakes! Some vets work in farming areas and care for larger animals, such as horses and cows. Others care for animals in zoos and animal parks. If you love animals, find out if a career as a vet or a vet tech is right for you!
Vets and Pets: Wounded Warriors and the Animals That Help Them Heal
by Barbara Bush Dava Guerin Kevin Ferris Andrea ArdenExperience firsthand the inspiring and heartwarming bonds between wounded veterans and their service and companion animals."Vets and Pets tells fifteen emotional and entertaining stories of the incredible bonds between wounded warriors, veterans, and other service members and their service and companion animals. Whether these special relationships are with dogs, cats, horses, pigs, or even birds of prey, readers will discover how these remarkable animals help veterans return to civilian life and live independently while simultaneously bringing joy and confidence into their lives. Tyler struggled to adjust to civilian life after losing both of his legs in Afghanistan, until he met his intelligent and willfully disobedient red European Doberman pinscher, Apollo. Vietnam veteran Patrick regained a sense of well-being and hope through the study of birds of prey. Max the horse has helped numerous veterans learn to trust, improve their communication, and increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Mandi discovered that the intelligence and unconditional love of pigs were exactly what she needed to heal from an abusive past and a disappointing army-training injury. These are just a few of the uplifting stories that are featured in this striking collection. In addition to exploring the unique, lifelong bonds that can develop between veterans and their animal companions, Vets and Pets spotlights extraordinary nonprofits that unite wounded warriors with service and companion animals, including Pets for Patriots, Hooves Marching for Mercy, Horses Helping Heroes, and Avian Veteran Alliance, among others. A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Pets for Patriots.
Vets Might Fly
by James HerriotThis book by James Herriot finds the young vet from Glasgow thrown into another new environment as he joins the RAF to serve in World War II. He tells a bit of his experiences in air force blue, looking at service life with characteristic dry humour, but his heart is still in the green hills of Yorkshire, with his newly-married wife and his animal patients. The book is mostly about those things and the eternal fascinating challenge of veterinary work. As James Herriot’s thoughts wander back over the rich memories from his life as a veterinary surgeon, a host of new characters and old friends, animal and human, march across the pages, all revealing Herriot himself with his dedication to the job and his unequalled capacity for seeing the silly side of things. The doctoring of animals is interwoven with triumph and failure, humour and sadness. And behind it all there is a constant awareness of the countryside, the stark beauty of the high Yorkshire dales. This is a book for those who love animals, the country and laughter.
Vets Might Fly
by James HerriotA few months of married bliss, a lovers' nest in Darrowby and the wonders of home cooking are rudely interrupted for James Herriot by the Second World War. James Herriot's fifth volume of memoirs relocates him to a training camp somewhere in England. And in between square pounding and digging for victory, he dreams of the people and livestock he left behind him.
The Vexations
by Caitlin HorrocksA kaleidoscopic debut novel about love, family, genius, and the madness of art, circling the life of eccentric composer Erik Satie and La Belle Époque Paris, from a writer who is "wildly entertaining" (San Francisco Chronicle), "startlingly ingenious" (Boston Globe), and "impressively sharp" (New York Times Book Review).Erik Satie begins life with every possible advantage. But after the dual blows of his mother's early death and his father's breakdown upend his childhood, Erik and his younger siblings -- Louise and Conrad -- are scattered. Later, as an ambitious young composer, Erik flings himself into the Parisian art scene, aiming for greatness but achieving only notoriety. As the years, then decades, pass, he alienates those in his circle as often as he inspires them, lashing out at friends and lovers like Claude Debussy and Suzanne Valadon. Only Louise and Conrad are steadfast allies. Together they strive to maintain their faith in their brother's talent and hold fast the badly frayed threads of family. But in a journey that will take her from Normandy to Paris to Argentina, Louise is rocked by a severe loss that ultimately forces her into a reckoning with how Erik -- obsessed with his art and hungry for fame -- will never be the brother she's wished for.With her buoyant, vivid reimagination of an iconic artist's eventful life, Caitlin Horrocks has written a captivating and ceaselessly entertaining novel about the tenacious bonds of family and the costs of greatness, both to ourselves and to those we love.
Una vez fui tú -- Edición para jóvenes (Once I Was You -- Adapted for Young Readers): Cómo encontré mi voz y hoy paso el micrófono
by Maria HinojosaAhora para jóvenes lectores, la periodista ganadora de cuatro premios Emmy y presentadora de Latino USA de NPR, María Hinojosa, cuenta la historia de la inmigración en los Estados Unidos a través de las experiencias de su familia y décadas de hacer reportajes, con lo cual crea un retrato de un país en crisis.María Hinojosa es una periodista ganadora de premios Emmy y la primera latina en fundar una redacción independiente sin fines de lucro en los Estados Unidos. Pero, antes de todo eso, fue una niña con una gran melena y sueños aún más grandes. Nacida en México y criada en el vibrante barrio de Hyde Park, en Chicago, María siempre buscó la forma de comprender mejor el mundo que la rodeaba… y la manera de encajar en él. En este libro combina historias de su vida, desde la imborrable experiencia de pertenecer a una familia de inmigrantes hasta el momento en que escuchó su propia voz en radio nacional por primera vez, ofreciendo sus observaciones y percepciones sobre la larga y complicada relación entre los Estados Unidos y sus inmigrantes. Divertida, franca y colmada de sabiduría, la historia de María es una que querrás leer una y otra vez, y su voz te inspirará a encontrar la tuya.
A Viagem de Megan: Um Guia Espiritual, Uma Tigresa Fantasma e Uma Mãe Assustadora! (A Série Megan #11)
by Owen JonesMegan viaja para o exterior nas férias com os pais pela primeira vez... Um guia espiritual, uma tigresa fantasma e uma mãe assustadora! Megan é uma adolescente de 13 anos que percebe ter poderes sobrenaturais que os outros não têm. No começo, ela tentou buscar a ajuda da mãe, mas encontrou consequências desastrosas e aprendeu a mantê-los em segredo. No entanto, algumas pessoas se ofereceram para ajudar e um animal mostrou uma amizade especial, apesar de nenhum deles estar “vivo” no sentido normal da palavra. Eles já faleceram. Megan tem três amigos: Wacinhinsha, seu Guia Espiritual que havia sido um Nativo Americano Sioux em sua última vida na Terra; seu avô materno, o vovô e uma enorme tigresa siberiana chamada Grrr. Wacinhinsha possui um vasto conhecimento sobre assuntos espirituais, psíquicos e paranormais; seu avô é um “morto” novato e Grrr só pode falar a língua dos tigres, como já se deve imaginar. A maior da sua fala, é claro, é ininteligível para os humanos. Em “A Viagem de Megan”, a família sai de férias para o exterior e Megan fica obcecada com o lugar. Ao voltar para casa, ela se faz de boba fingindo ser o que não é e se exibindo. No entanto, sua mãe e alguns outros a trazem de volta à realidade. Wacinhinsha lhe dá uma explicação para sua recente paixão por seu destino de férias.
El viaje: Nueve historias de vidas largas, vejez y sabiduría.
by PATRICIO DE LA PAZUna indagación en la vejez a partir de perfiles de notables personajes: Marta Cruz-Coke, Ángela Jeria, Miguel Lawner, Gabriel Salazar, Eduardo Carrasco, Julia Toro, Carmen Barros, Guillermo Núñez y Luis Alarcón En El viaje. Nueve historias de vidas largas, vejez y sabiduría, Patricio De la Paz nos presenta la vida y obra, en una recopilación única, de nueve personas excepcionales. A través de conversaciones íntimas y reflexivas, estas voces - insólitas, delicadas, privilegiadas- comparten su visión de la vida y el mundo que las rodea. Desde la fragilidad de nuestra existencia hasta la rapidez con la que el tiempo avanza y los giros inesperados que enfrentamos, estas historias nos invitan a contemplar la vejez como una etapa en la que la sabiduría se entrelaza con la nostalgia y la esperanza. De esta forma, las indagaciones del autor en torno a temas como el dolor, la convicción, el entusiasmo, la osadía o el gozo, entre otros, nos brindan la oportunidad de adentrarnos en un universo de experiencias y perspectivas valiosas. En un mundo en constante cambio y con una obsesión por lo nuevo, estas voces nos recuerdan la importancia de mirar hacia aquellos que durante largo tiempo han experimentado vivencias notables y conocimientos imprescindibles, y encontrar en ellos las señales de ruta para nuestro propio crecimiento y comprensión.
Viaje al centro de mi cerebro: Las anécdotas más ácidas y salvajes del icónico batería de Lagartija Nick y Los Planetas.
by Eric JiménezTras Cuatro millones de golpes, el mejor batería español de pop-rock relata sus historias más ácidas y salvajes de sus giras con Los Planetas y Lagartija Nick. Leer este libro es como viajar durante una semana en el motor de un autobús. Un libro que mediante kilómetros de historias dentro de la furgoneta en la que van de gira Los Planetas o Lagartija Nick, a pie por las calles de Granada o incluso en disolución por el efecto de algún psicotrópico nos descubre el centro del cerebro del batería más legendario de este país. Un recorrido divertido y surrealista que podría ser el viaje iniciático de un héroe y, sin embargo, es el de un rockero (que quizá sea lo mismo). Reseñas:«Eric escribe para poner negro sobre blanco una aventura que por momentos se le antoja inconcebible, la de estar vivo.»Eldiario.es «Un libro divertido, sincero, revelador de la escena musical de los noventa y dos mil, estupendamente narrado.»El País «Hará pasar un buen rato a todos esos que veneran, y con más razón que un santo granadino, a uno de los tipos más peculiares, geniales y de verdad del mejor tinglado indie de por aquí.»Mondosonoro «Escribe, como él dice, porque lo ha pasado de puta madre, pero también las ha pasado putas.»El Español Los lectores han dicho...«Todo lo que puedas imaginar se queda corto, tienes que leerlo.» «¡Bienvenido a la locura elevada a la máxima potencia!» «Divertido, honesto, tierno y desgarrador.»
Viaje al país de los blancos
by Ousman UmarLa odisea de un joven que arriesgó su vida por un futuro mejor. Mi nombre es Ousman Umar. Sé que nací un martes, no sé de qué mes ni de qué año porque en mi tribu eso no importa. Crecí en la sabana africana. Caminaba siete kilómetros para ir a la escuela. Mi vida era feliz y sencilla, hasta que un día, entre juegos, vi un avión volar. Desde ese momento quise ser piloto, ingeniero, todo, menos negro. La curiosidad por conocer el mundo me empujó a hacer un viaje sin retorno hacia el País de los Blancos. A los trece años crucé el Sahara a pie, el mar en patera y vi morir en el camino a la mayoría de mis compañeros de viaje, entre ellos a mi mejor amigo. Cuatro años después de comenzar esa hazaña, logré llegar a España y, tras varios meses durmiendo en la calle, me acogió una familia. La primera noche que dormí en su casa, pese a las comodidades y el confort, me puse a llorar como un niño. ¿Por qué había sufrido tanto? ¿Por qué tanta lucha? ¿Qué había hecho mal? Ahora, necesito contar esta historia, hasta que no haya más historias como esta que contar.
Viaje de Londres a Génova a través de Inglaterra, Portugal, España y Francia
by Giuseppe BarettiLos mejores libros jamás escritos. «Pero a pesar de estas desventajas, Madrid es una ciudad muy opulenta, como imaginaréis fácilmente si pensáis que ha sido durante varios siglos la residencia constante de poderosos monarcas y el domicilio habitual de casi toda la nobleza más rica y los caballeros de este reino... »En una ciudad así constituida, donde el trabajo penoso está de alguna manera casi excluido, no es difícil comprender que muchos de sus habitantes no tengan casi otro quehacer que idear cómo pasar el tiempo agradablemente. De una situación tan singular han surgido necesariamente costumbres singulares, y como la relación entre los sexos es el principal modo de placer entre la humanidad, son muchas las invenciones a las que este pueblo ha recurrido para facilitar esa relación. »El deseo que los hombres y las mujeres tienen aquí de pasar el tiempo en mutua compañía es tan ardiente que no parece distinto del furor, especialmente a quien ha vivido largo tiempo en Inglaterra, donde los hombres de todo rango parecen en cierto modo avergonzados de estar mucho tiempo alrededor del bello sexo, y donde la mayoría se priva todos los días de su compañía durante varias horas simplemente para hablar de política o hacer circular la botella. »Muchos son los métodos que ambos sexos han ideado aquí para pasar el mayor tiempo posible juntos, y esta carta os informará de algunos de ellos.» De la Carta LVIII del Viaje de Giuseppe Baretti