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What's Cooking in the Kremlin: From Rasputin to Putin, How Russia Built an Empire with a Knife and Fork
by Witold Szablowski&“Chatty and illuminating.&” —The New York Times&“Riveting—a delicious odyssey full of history, humor, and jaw-dropping stories. If you want to understand the making of modern Russia, read this book.&” —Daniel Stone, bestselling author of The Food ExplorerA high-spirited, eye-opening, appetite-whetting culinary travel adventure that tells the story of the last hundred years of Russian power through food, by an award-winning Polish journalist who&’s been praised by both Timothy Snyder and Bill BufordIn the gonzo spirit of Anthony Bourdain and Hunter S. Thompson, Witold Szabłowski has tracked down—and broken bread with—people whose stories of working in Kremlin kitchens impart a surprising flavor to our understanding of one of the world&’s superpowers.In revealing what Tsar Nicholas II&’s and Lenin&’s favorite meals were, why Stalin&’s cook taught Gorbachev&’s cook to sing to his dough, how Stalin had a food tester while he was starving the Ukrainians during the Great Famine, what the recipe was for the first soup flown into outer space, why Brezhnev hated caviar, what was served to the Soviet Union&’s leaders at the very moment they decided the USSR should cease to exist, and whether Putin&’s grandfather really did cook for Lenin and Stalin, Szabłowski has written a fascinating oral history—complete with recipes and photos—of Russia&’s evolution from culinary indifference to decadence, famine to feasts, and of the Kremlin&’s Olympics-style preoccupation with food as an expression of the country&’s global standing.Traveling across Stalin&’s Georgia, the war fronts of Afghanistan, the nuclear wastelands of Chornobyl, and even to a besieged steelworks plant in Mariupol—often with one-of-a-kind access to locales forbidden to foreign eyes, and with a rousing sense of adventure and an inimitable ability to get people to spill the tea—he shows that a century after the revolution, Russia still uses food as an instrument of war and feeds its people on propaganda.
What's In Washington, D. C. ?
by Laine Falk- Vocabulary preview and review pages with pronunciations, glossary, and index- Diagrams, graphs, or other educational graphics- Fun, engaging editorial content- Curriculum connections- Beautiful, full-color photographs that support and enhance text- Simple interior design and easy-to-read fonts- Websites for further research and information- Back-matter pages that invite readers to think further on the topics- Clean design for easy readability and comprehension
What's Left of Me is Yours
by Stephanie ScottA BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE DAILY MAIL AND WOMAN AND HOMEA New York Times 'Editor's Pick'One of the Observer's Ten Best Debut Novelists of 2020Shortlisted for the Author's Club First Novel AwardLonglisted for the Jhalak PrizeLonglisted for the CWA John Creasy New Blood Dagger'Enrapturing... This richly imagined novel considers the many permutations of love and what we are capable of doing in its name' New York Times'A brilliant debut' Louise Doughty, author of Apple Tree Yard'You'll have the heart rate of an Olympic hurdler' Sunday Express'I read it with my heart in my throat' Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton 'An exquisitely crafted masterpiece you'll be pressing into the hands of others' Woman & Home 'An intoxicatingly atmospheric mystery' Daily Mail'Dark, addictive and eye-opening, this is a brilliant debut' StylistA gripping debut set in modern-day Tokyo and inspired by a true crime, What's Left of Me Is Yours follows a young woman's search for the truth about her mother's life - and her murder.In Japan, a covert industry has grown up around the wakaresaseya (literally "breaker-upper"), a person hired by one spouse to seduce the other in order to gain the advantage in divorce proceedings.When Sato hires Kaitaro, a wakaresaseya agent, to have an affair with his wife, Rina, he assumes it will be an easy case. But Sato has never truly understood Rina or her desires and Kaitaro's job is to do exactly that - until he does it too well.While Rina remains ignorant of the circumstances that brought them together, she and Kaitaro fall in a desperate, singular love, setting in motion a series of violent acts that will forever haunt her daughter Sumiko's life.Told from alternating points of view and across the breathtaking landscapes of Japan, What's Left of Me Is Yours explores the thorny psychological and moral grounds of the actions we take in the name of love, asking where we draw the line between passion and possession.
What's New, Harper Drew?: Book 1 (What's New, Harper Drew? #1)
by Kathy WeeksWelcome to the hilarious WORLD of Harper Drew... there's a whole lot of DRAMA, but luckily she has tried and tested methods to deal with it! Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries.My name is Harper Drew. I'm using my new journal to take note of all the totally ridiculous things that seem to go on around me with my family and friends. I seem to be the ONLY ONE who sees all of this stuff for what it is. Completely BEYOND normal.Recently I've been logging Drew Dial Ratings for all the mayhem. On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is someone to SAY or DO something that would be less sensible than (for example) ... a demented camel? First up is the annual Drew trip to France... and while there might not be camels, there are BATS and Llamas - and my brother Troy who is so obsessed with his hairstyle, he won't even go swimming... that's a whole lot of ratings. I'm just hoping I land an invite to Maisie Felix's party when I'm back to distract me from the Drews... for one whole evening!The start of a relatable new audiobook series, all about embracing your family, and finding unique ways to deal with life's dramas.(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
What's New, Harper Drew?: Book 1 (What's New, Harper Drew?)
by Kathy WeeksWelcome to the hilarious WORLD of Harper Drew... there's a whole lot of DRAMA, but luckily she has tried and tested methods to deal with it! Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries.My name is Harper Drew. I'm using my new journal to take note of all the totally ridiculous things that seem to go on around me with my family and friends. I seem to be the ONLY ONE who sees this all of this stuff for what it is. Completely BEYOND normal.Recently I've been logging Drew Dial Ratings for all the mayhem. On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is someone to SAY or DO something that would be less sensible than (for example) ... a demented camel? First up is the annual Drew trip to France... and while there might not be camels, there are BATS and Llamas - and my brother Troy who is so obsessed with his hairstyle, he won't even go swimming... that's a whole lot of ratings. I'm just hoping I land an invite to Maisie Felix's party when I'm back to distract me from the Drews... for one whole evening!The start of a relatable new illustrated series, all about embracing your family, and finding unique ways to deal with life's dramas.
What's New, Harper Drew?: Book 1 (What's New, Harper Drew?)
by Kathy WeeksWelcome to the hilarious WORLD of Harper Drew... there's a whole lot of DRAMA, but luckily she has tried and tested methods to deal with it! Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries.My name is Harper Drew. I'm using my new journal to take note of all the totally ridiculous things that seem to go on around me with my family and friends. I seem to be the ONLY ONE who sees this all of this stuff for what it is. Completely BEYOND normal.Recently I've been logging Drew Dial Ratings for all the mayhem. On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is someone to SAY or DO something that would be less sensible than (for example) ... a demented camel? First up is the annual Drew trip to France... and while there might not be camels, there are BATS and Llamas - and my brother Troy who is so obsessed with his hairstyle, he won't even go swimming... that's a whole lot of ratings. I'm just hoping I land an invite to Maisie Felix's party when I'm back to distract me from the Drews... for one whole evening!The start of a relatable new illustrated series, all about embracing your family, and finding unique ways to deal with life's dramas.
What's for Dinner?
by Cyndy HallWhat if you had to pack your car with all the food you needed for a cross-country trip?
What's the Difference?: What's the Difference?
by Editors of Mental FlossEnlighten Up Already!Monet? Manet? Who can even tell the difference? Well, with the help of the newest mental_floss tome, you can! Want to learn how to tell egg rolls from spring rolls, nuclear bombs from dirty nuclear bombs, or even how to tell an idiot from a moron (there's a real scientific difference)? Piece of cake! Whether you're trying to impress your boss, your mother-in-law, attractive singles, or a pack of fourth graders (you know how they love semantics), mental_floss gives you all the tips and tricks to have you sounding like a genius.
Wheatland (Images of America)
by Barbara Chapman Catherine GilbertThe town of Wheatland lies along the west bank of the Genesee River in the southwest corner of Monroe County. In 1786, the adventurous frontiersman Ebenezer "Indian" Allan built a log cabin near the river. The Allan family soon moved on, but the settlement of the entire area west of the Genesee River had begun. The name given to the town in 1821 recognized the successful wheat crops already yielded by its fertile soil. Oatka Creek, which winds its way across town to the river, once powered flour and plaster mills that made the villages and hamlets of Wheatland thriving communities. Today Wheatland remains a rural area known for its picturesque countryside and its recreational opportunities.
Wheaton
by Keith CallWhere will you find C. S. Lewis's wardrobe, J. R. R. Tolkien's desk, Malcolm Muggeridge's typewriter, Madame Blavatsky's tiara, the bones of a hulking mastodon, Billy Graham's traveling pulpit, and Tyndale House, publishers ofthe best-selling Left Behind series? Where will you find students, mystics, theologians, doctors, authors, actors, and musicians living in harmony? In Wheaton. Located 26 miles west of Chicago, the "All America City" boasts excellent schools, exquisite old homes, safe streets, and fine museums. Though Horace Greeley is credited with uttering the immortal "Go west, young man!" the sentiment had been acted upon much earlier by questing pioneers, many of whom halted in the middle plains, sensing terrific potentialin the rich black soil of Illinois. Among these were Warren and Jesse Wheaton and Erastus Gary from Pomfret, Connecticut. Seeking suitable land for farming, they settled and constructed a mill. From there they built cabins and harvested spring crops. Soon there was a village of a few hundred, connected by train to the farthest reaches of the nation. Now there is a city of 55,000 residents.
Wheeling
by Brent Carney William A. Carney Jr.When most people think of Wheeling they remember Independence Hall and the birth of West Virginia, but Wheeling's history goes back even further to the frontier legends of Lewis Wetzel and Maj. Samuel McColloch. Images of America: Wheeling includes photographs of both Wetzel's cave and Major McColloch's smoke house, as well as a multitude of historic photographs depicting the way life used to be in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Famous visitors such as Babe Ruth, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, President John F. Kennedy, actress Sarah Bernhardt, and Buffalo Bill are featured. Within these pages memorable snapshots document some famous moments in the history of the 20th century, such as when President Eisenhower decided to keep Senator Nixon on the ticket at the Ohio County Public Airport and Sen. Joseph McCarthy's famous speech about Communists in the State Department at Wheeling's McLure Hotel. However, the real stars of this book are Wheeling's own buildings, industries, and people, from machine workers on the job to millionaires at play. A chapter devoted to the African-American experience in Wheeling includes Center Market's slave auction block as well as an image of the great jazz saxophonist Leon "Chu" Berry. This collection highlights some of the horrific natural disasters that occurred at the turn of the century as well as Wheeling's Victorian architectural treasures, which were erected during the same era.
Wheeling
by Sean Patrick Duffy Paul RinkesThe convergence of the Ohio River, the National Road, a remarkable bridge, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad transformed Wheeling into a transportation hub. Fed by an influx of immigrant labor, the city prospered, adding industrial muscle. But global economic changes brought the machine to a sudden halt. In Then & Now: Wheeling author Seán Duffy and photographer Paul Rinkes explore a city still recovering from that trauma, a city with a proud past and an uncertain but hopeful future.
When Birds Are Near: Dispatches from Contemporary Writers
In this dazzling literary collection, writers explore and celebrate their lives with and love for birds—detailing experiences from Alaska to Bermuda, South Dakota to Panama. In When Birds Are Near, fresh new voices as well as seasoned authors offer tales of adventure, perseverance, and fun, whether taking us on a journey down Highway 1 to see a rare California Condor, fighting the destruction of our grasslands, or simply watching the feeder from a kitchen window.But these essays are more than just field notes. The authors reflect on love, loss, and family, engaging a broad array of emotions, from wonder to amusement. As Rob Nixon writes, "Sometimes the best bird experiences are defined less by a rare sighting than by a quality of presence, some sense of overall occasion that sets in motion memories of a particular landscape, a particular light, a particular choral effect, a particular hiking partner." Or, as the poet Elizabeth Bradfield remarks, "We resonate with certain animals, I believe, because they are a physical embodiment of an answer we are seeking. A sense of ourselves in the world that is nearly inexpressible." When Birds Are Near gives us the chance to walk alongside these avid appreciators of birds and reflect on our own interactions with our winged companions.Contributors: Christina Baal, Thomas Bancroft, K. Bannerman, R. A. Behrstock, Richard Bohannon, Elizabeth Bradfield, Christine Byl, Susan Cerulean, Sara Crosby, Jenn Dean, Rachel Dickinson, Katie Fallon, Jonathan Franzen, Andrew Furman, Tim Gallagher, David Gessner, Renata Golden, Ursula Murray Husted, Eli J. Knapp, Donald Kroodsma, J. Drew Lanham, John R. Nelson, Rob Nixon, Jonathan Rosen, Alison Townsend, Alison Világ
When Camp Onanda Gives Her Call: Camp History on Canandaigua Lake
by Ray Henry Carol TruesdaleIn 1883, eleven Rochester women formed the Young Women's Association, and in 1919 they purchased Camp Onanda to provide an escape for young factory girls. The YWCA carried on that mission into the 1980s so that girls from all walks of life could experience the joys of camp. Over the decades, girls enjoyed summer activities like archery and sailing, drinking "bug juice" around the campfire and swimming lessons. They came from all over to experience the great outdoors, free from the economic hardships and social challenges of city life. In the spirit of that tradition, Onanda is now a beloved public park. Former Onanda counselor Carol Truesdale tells the story of Camp Onanda and of the many lives this camp changed.
When Cats Reigned Like Kings: On the Trail of the Sacred Cats
by Georgie Anne Geyer“A lively blend of travel, autobiography and insights . . . explores connections between the royal felines of ancient civilizations and domestic cats.” —Midwest Book ReviewChasing an irresistible mystery across the globe, journalist Georgie Anne Geyer conducted exhaustive research into the little-known puzzle of how cats came to occupy their unique position in the lives of humans. Treated with the tenacity, resourcefulness, and narrative instinct of a seasoned foreign correspondent, the investigation yielded unexpected answers—and posed tantalizing new questions. The result is a remarkable book, bound to delight and amaze cat fanciers and adventure seekers.It was Geyer’s curiosity about her own cats that inspired her to study the history of human-feline relations and especially cats’ exalted status among the ancients as royal or sacred beings. Her quest spanned the earth. In Egypt, Geyer learned of the cat-goddess, Bastet, and of the cat’s role in the transmigration of souls. In Myanmar, she saw Leonardo DiCaprio, Ricky Martin, and the other incongruously named cats of the Nga Phe Kyaung monastery, trained by the monks to jump through hoops. She even met a family who dutifully guards the heritage of the Japanese bobtail, cultivating the line in—of all places—rural Virginia.Richly illustrated with photos of Geyer’s journeys and historical cat images, When Cats Reigned Like Kings also presents a Family of Cat section that describes the origins and characteristics of the 38–40 recognized modern cat breeds, including photos of each. “A fascinating trip into the cat world from one cool-cat writer.” —Paul Duke, veteran journalist and moderator of PBS’s Washington Week in Review“[A] charming blend of reportage and personal history.” —Publishers Weekly
When Hollywood Came to Utah
by James V. D'ArcFor more than 100 years, the magnificent scenery and locales of Utah have played host to hundreds of Hollywood films and TV episodes, including memorable films such as The Searchers, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, Easy Rider, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Thelma & Louise, and Forrest Gump. This book gives readers the inside scoop on how these films were made, what happened on and off set, and more. Author and film historian James V. D’Arc provides a wealth of trivial factoids for movie buffs, including anecdotes about the interactions of Utah locals with actors and crew. New and updated text and photos have been added to the previous edition (When Hollywood Came to Town) to bring this edition up to date with movies and TV shows filmed in Utah since 2010.
When Hurricane Katrina Hit Home
by Gail Langer KarwoskiChazz Cohen lives with his grandmom in the Garden District of New Orleans. In his family, money is no problem. But money won't buy Chazz what he wants--a "real" home with his mom. Across town in the Ninth Ward, Lyric Talbert wishes her mom didn't expect so much from her, especially when her little brother gets sick. It seemed like the storm would blow over as so many had. But Katrina burst the levees, and the world turned to chaos for Chazz and Lyric and their families. They quickly learn that, though their worlds were different before the storm, it was their courage and compassion that would help them make it through. Through the alternating stories of Chazz and Lyric, acclaimed children's author Gail Langer Karwoski chronicles the disaster that forever changed New Orleans and its people.
When I Fell From The Sky: The True Story of One Woman's Miraculous Survival
by Juliane KoepckeOn December 24th 1971, the teenage Juliane boarded the packed flight in Peru to meet her father for Christmas. She and her mother fought to get some of the last seats available and felt thankful to have made the flight. The LANSA airplane flew into a heavy thunderstorm and went down in dense Amazon jungle hundreds of miles from civilization.She fell two miles from the sky, still strapped to her plane seat, into the jungle. She was the sole survivor among the 92 passengers, which included her mother, and Juliane s unexplainable survival has been called a modern-day miracle.With incredible courage, instinct and ingenuity, she crawled and walked alone for eleven days in the green hell of the Amazon. She survived using the skills she d learned in assisting her parents on their research trips into the jungle before coming across a loggers hut, and, with it, safety. Now she tells her fascinating story for the first time and on its 40th anniversary she shares not only the private moments of her survival and rescue but her inspiring life in the wake of the disaster.
When I Hit the Road
by Nancy J. CavanaughFrom the award-winning author of This Journal Belongs to Ratchet comes an uplifting, hilarious, illustrated middle grade story about a girl on a madcap road trip. Told in journal entries, When I Hit the Road explores making unexpected friends, multigenerational relationships, and finding out that maybe journaling your adventures isn't so bad after all.Samantha is not exactly excited to spend her entire summer vacation in Florida with her grandma. Or to have to write to her future self in the journal her mom insists she use. But it turns out that Gram has some not-so-boring plans up her sleeve…Gram and her friend Mimi are going to audition for the Seniors Have Got Talent Karaoke Contest!A road trip in Gram's new Mustang turns into a series of hilarious mishaps that flip Samantha's summer on its head, especially because, an unexpected person is sharing the ride: a super cute, muscular, athletic-looking, dimple-faced, middle-school boy named Brandon.It looks like her journal might be worth keeping after all because this summer will be one Samantha will never want to forget.Follow along with Sam, Gram, Mimi and Brandon in all their road trip shenanigans, including:A GIANT alligator and the grossest swamp mud you'll ever seeThe safe-haven Glory Bound Baptist Church (and cat burglar)The hilarious (and terrifying) Kooky Karaoke ContestThe Friendly Fill-up Gas Station (and the Restroom of Horror)And morePerfect for summer reading, middle school girls, and students grades 3rd to 8th that want a fun, lighthearted read!
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie (The Great Peach Experiment #1)
by Erin Soderberg DowningMix together a used food truck, a road trip that doesn't exactly go as planned, and a lot of pie, and you have the recipe for this sweet middle grade series starter brimming with humor, heart, and a family you'll fall in love with. Perfect for readers who gobbled down The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeeks of 141st Street. <P><P>Sweet summer has taken a rotten turn . . . After a tough year, Lucy, Freddy, and Herb Peach are ready for vacation. Lucy wants to read all of the books on the summer reading list. Freddy wants to work on his art projects (when he isn't stuck in summer school). Herb wants to swim every day. <P><P>Then their dad makes a big announcement: one of the inventions their mom came up with before she passed away has sold, and now they're millionaires! <P><P>But Dad has bigger plans than blowing the cash on fun stuff or investing it. He's bought a used food truck. The Peaches are going to spend the summer traveling the country selling pies. It will be the Great Peach Experiment--a summer of bonding while living out one of Mom's dreams. Summer plans, sunk. And there's one more issue Dad's neglected: none of them knows how to bake. . . . <P><P>A perfect blend of humor, heart, and family antics, When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie is a delectable treat to be gobbled down or savored slowly. (Slice of pie on the side, optional, but highly recommended.) <P><P>A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
When The Red Gates Opened: A Memoir of China's Reawakening
by Dori Jones YangA Riveting Memoir of Cross-Cultural Romance at a Pivotal Moment in History When China opened its doors in the 1980s, it shocked the world by allowing private enterprise and free markets. As a foreign correspondent for BusinessWeek, Dori Jones Yang was among the first American journalists to cover China under Deng Xiaoping, who dared to defy Maoist doctrine as he rushed to catch up with richer nations. Fluent in Mandarin, she got to know ordinary Chinese people—who were embracing opportunities that had once been unimaginable in China. This deeply personal story follows her rise from rookie reporter to experienced journalist. Her cross-cultural romance gave her deeper insights into how Deng&’s reforms led to hopes for better lives. This euphoria—shared by American businesses and Chinese citizens alike—reached its peak in 1989, when peaceful protestors filled Tiananmen Square, demanding democracy. On the ground in Beijing, Dori lived that hope, as well as the despair that followed. You&’ll be inspired by this book of empowerment about a young woman from Ohio who pushed aside barriers to become a foreign correspondent and then persevered despite setbacks. Written in a time when China&’s rapid rise is setting off fears in Washington, this book offers insight into the daring policies that started it all.
When We Were Young
by Richard Roper'Such a warm, uplifting read. It's a celebration of the bond we have with our oldest friends, and it's so funny' Beth O'Leary'A brilliant, funny, insightful exploration of friendship, which properly made me laugh and cry' Laura Marshall---------Theo has been living in his parents' shed, nursing a broken heart and a wounded ego, convinced life can't get any worse. Then he gets evicted on his 30th birthday. Theo thinks he's done with the real world - until it shows up on his doorstep...Joel is a successful TV scriptwriter, still in love with his teenage sweetheart. A proper grown-up - and yet he's falling apart at the seams. He's headed home to reconnect with best friend Theo - except they haven't spoken since the summer they turned 16.One of them is keeping a secret, and the other is living a lie. But can the promise they once made to walk all 184 miles of the Thames Path help them find their way back to the truth - and to their friendship?A tender and funny story about wanting to go back - when you know it's time to move on.---------'An uplifting and redemptive journey' Steven Rowley'A beautifully bittersweet tale about the enduring power of friendship, reminding us how sometimes the best way to face life's biggest challenges is to take them one step at a time with your best friend by your side' Oliver Sands'An absorbing and heartfelt tale of past mistakes and friendship lost but never forgotten. A joyful summer read' Owen Nicholls---------Your favourite authors loved reading Richard Roper's uplifting first novel, Something to Live For:'A magnificent read. Tender, funny, compelling' Lucy Foley'Funny, moving and thought-provoking - I loved this' Clare Mackintosh'I adored this! It warmed my heart, broke it a little, then put it back together' Beth O'Leary'Funny, fresh and achingly tender. Richard's writing hooked me in from the very first page' Cathy Bramley'A life-affirming novel that simultaneously tweaks your funny-bone and tugs at your heartstrings. Brilliant!' Matt Dunn'It pulls you in, makes you laugh and breaks your heart' Gill Hornby
When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home
by Erma BombeckThe popular humorist offers tips and truisms on travel, discussing oddly named food, Asian bus drivers in Germany, plumbing around the world, and more.
When Your Heart Says Go: My Year of Traveling Beyond Loss and Loneliness
by Judy ReevesWhat sort of mad longing besets a woman—nearing fifty and recently widowed—to sell everything she owns, buy an around-the-world airline ticket, pack a single suitcase, and set off alone on a year-long journey without a plan or agenda? When Your Heart Says Go answers that question. Set in 1990–&’91, Judy&’s story takes readers from San Diego through eleven European countries, the then-Soviet Union, and finally India, during the lead-up to the first Gulf War. Explorations of foreign locales and interactions with strangers and acquaintances who become a lifeline to friendship are interspersed with occasional flashbacks to Judy&’s life with her beloved husband, Tom, as well as his illness and death. Descriptions of sites historic and current serve as both daily life and background for Judy&’s struggle to find her way as a sober, single, independent woman in the vast world as it edges toward the collapse of the Soviet Union and war in the Middle East. The outer journey serves as a container for the inner; the more Judy experiences of the world, the more she learns about herself—and the closer she gets to realizing her lifelong dream of being a writer.
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa
by Peter GodwinAfter his father's heart attack in 1984, Peter Godwin began a series of pilgrimages back to Zimbabwe, the land of his birth, from Manhattan, where he now lives. On these frequent visits to check on his elderly parents, he bore witness to Zimbabwe's dramatic spiral downwards into the jaws of violent chaos, presided over by an increasingly enraged dictator. And yet long after their comfortable lifestyle had been shattered and millions were fleeing, his parents refuse to leave, steadfast in their allegiance to the failed state that has been their adopted home for 50 years. Then Godwin discovered a shocking family secret that helped explain their loyalty. Africa was his father's sanctuary from another identity, another world. WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN is a stirring memoir of the disintegration of a family set against the collapse of a country. But it is also a vivid portrait of the profound strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of love. A Readers Guide is included, which contains an interview with the author and discussion questions.