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Their Divine Fires: A Novel
by Wendy ChenA captivating and intimate debut novel interwoven with folktale and myth, Wendy Chen&’s Their Divine Fires tells the story of the love affairs of three generations of Chinese women across one hundred years of revolutions both political and personal. In 1917, at the dawn of the Chinese revolution, Yunhong is growing up in the southern china countryside and falls deeply in love with the son of a wealthy landlord despite her brother&’s objections. On the night of her wedding, her brother destroys the marriage, irrevocably changing the shape of Yunhong&’s family to come: her daughter, Yuexin, will never know her father. Haunted by a history that she does not understand, Yuexin passes on those memories to her daughters Hongxing and Yonghong, who come of age in the years following Mao&’s death, battling the push and pull of political forces as they forge their own paths. Each generation guards its secrets, leaving Emily, great-granddaughter of Yunhong and living in contemporary America, to piece together what actually happened between her mother and her aunt, and the weight of their shared ancestry. Drawing on the lives of her great-grandmother and her great-uncles—both of whom fought on the side of the Communists—as well as her mother&’s experiences during the Cultural Revolution, Wendy Chen infuses this gorgeous debut with a passion that will transport the reader back to powerful moments in history while bringing us close to the women who persisted despite the forces all around them. Both brilliant and haunting, it&’s a story about what our ancestors will, and won&’t, tell us.
Their Dogs Came With Them: A Novel
by Helena María ViramontesHelena Maria Viramontes brings 1960s Los Angeles to life with "terse, energetic, and vivid" (Publishers Weekly) prose in this story of a group of young Latinx women fighting to survive and thrive in a tumultuous world. Award-winning author of Under the Feet of Jesus, Helena María Viramontes offers a profoundly gritty portrait of everyday life in L.A. in this lyrically muscular, artfully crafted novel. In the barrio of East Los Angeles, a group of unbreakable young women struggle to find their way through the turbulent urban landscape of the 1960s. Androgynous Turtle is a homeless gang member. Ana devotes herself to a mentally ill brother. Ermila is a teenager poised between childhood and political consciousness. And Tranquilina, the daughter of missionaries, finds hope in faith. In prose that is potent and street-tough, Viramontes has choreographed a tragic dance of death and rebirth. Julia Alvarez has called Viramontes "one of the important multicultural voices of American literature." Their Dogs Came with Them further proves the depth and talent of this essential author.
Their Impossible Desert Match: Christmas In The King's Bed / Their Impossible Desert Match (Mills And Boon Modern Ser.)
by Clare ConnellyInspired by Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed royals from warring countries fall in love in this sexy international enemies-to-lovers romance. Princess Johara craves a last taste of freedom before assuming her royal duties. And she finds it in a scorchingly hot encounter at an opulent ball. Except her mystery lover turns out to be Sheikh Amir of Ishkana—her family’s bitter enemy! Now Amir must invite Johara to his desert palace to cement a new peace treaty between their countries. He’d rather avoid her—and temptation—forever! Yet an attraction this consuming refuses to be ignored, no matter how risky the consequences . . .
Their Unlikely Amish Courtship: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance
by Cathy LiggettA fake arrangement For the sake of a child No one in Sugarcreek, Ohio, can believe that charming Benjamin Byler and standoffish Miriam Schrock are dating—and they&’d be right. But the Amish bachelor needs the fake courtship to prove he can care for his orphaned niece. Now the mismatched couple must convince their community they&’re truly in love. Except Miriam is more caring and beautiful than Benjamin thought, and he might be in danger of falling for his own charade…From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Their Vicious Games
by Joelle Wellington&“A brutally honest and haunting cautionary tale…exposing the lie that is meritocracy and the unrelenting toll that being a final girl takes. A bloody tale spun masterfully…a dark delight.&” —Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, New York Times bestselling author of Ace of Spades A Black teen desperate to regain her Ivy League acceptance enters an elite competition only to discover the stakes aren&’t just high, they&’re deadly, in this &“spine-chilling thriller&” (Publishers Weekly). You must work twice as hard to get half as much. Adina Walker has known this the entire time she&’s been on scholarship at the prestigious Edgewater Academy—a school for the rich (and mostly white) upper class of New England. It&’s why she works so hard to be perfect and above reproach, no matter what she must force beneath the surface. Even one slip can cost you everything. And it does. One fight, one moment of lost control, leaves Adina blacklisted from her top choice Ivy League college and any other. Her only chance to regain the future she&’s sacrificed everything for is the Finish, a high-stakes contest sponsored by Edgewater&’s founding family in which twelve young, ambitious women with exceptional promise are selected to compete in three mysterious events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. The winner will be granted entry into the fold of the Remington family, whose wealth and power can open any door. But when she arrives at the Finish, Adina quickly gets the feeling that something isn&’t quite right with both the Remingtons and her fellow competitors, and soon it becomes clear that this larger-than-life prize can only come at an even greater cost. Because the Finish&’s stakes aren&’t just make or break…they&’re life and death. Adina knows the deck is stacked against her—it always has been—so maybe the only way to survive their vicious games is for her to change the rules.
Thelma the Unicorn (Movie Novelization) E-Book
by Ms. Kate HowardAaron Blabey's hit picture book Thelma the Unicorn is now an animated movie on Netflix! Don't miss this junior novel that captures all of Thelma's hilarious hijinks.Thelma the pony has an amazing singing voice and dreams of making it big, but who wants to pay attention to a little farm pony? If only she were a sparkly unicorn! With the help of a carrot and a glitter-filled moment of fate, her dream comes true. Thelma the Unicorn becomes an international sensation! But is fame all Thelma thought it would be?This junior novel based on the Netflix movie includes eight pages of full-color photos!
Them: Why We Hate Each Other—and How to Heal
by Ben Sasse* AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *From the New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing American Adult, an intimate and urgent assessment of the existential crisis facing our nation.Something is wrong. We all know it.American life expectancy is declining for a third straight year. Birth rates are dropping. Nearly half of us think the other political party isn’t just wrong; they’re evil. We’re the richest country in history, but we’ve never been more pessimistic. What’s causing the despair?In Them, bestselling author and U.S. senator Ben Sasse argues that, contrary to conventional wisdom, our crisis isn’t really about politics. It’s that we’re so lonely we can’t see straight—and it bubbles out as anger. Local communities are collapsing. Across the nation, little leagues are disappearing, Rotary clubs are dwindling, and in all likelihood, we don’t know the neighbor two doors down. Work isn’t what we’d hoped: less certainty, few lifelong coworkers, shallow purpose. Stable families and enduring friendships—life’s fundamental pillars—are in statistical freefall. As traditional tribes of place evaporate, we rally against common enemies so we can feel part of a team. No institutions command widespread public trust, enabling foreign intelligence agencies to use technology to pick the scabs on our toxic divisions. We’re in danger of half of us believing different facts than the other half, and the digital revolution throws gas on the fire. There’s a path forward—but reversing our decline requires something radical: a rediscovery of real places and human-to-human relationships. Even as technology nudges us to become rootless, Sasse shows how only a recovery of rootedness can heal our lonely souls. America wants you to be happy, but more urgently, America needs you to love your neighbor and connect with your community. Fixing what's wrong with the country depends on it.
Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It
by Christof Koch"Deeply personal and infinitely digestible, Then I Am Myself the World is a remarkable must-read for anyone interested in knowing their mind.&”―Judson Brewer MD, PhD, New York Times–bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety The world&’s leading investigator of consciousness argues that by understanding what consciousness does—cause change in the world—we can understand its origins and its future In Then I Am Myself the World, Christof Koch explores the only thing we directly experience: consciousness. At the book&’s heart is integrated-information theory, the idea that the essence of consciousness is the ability to exert causal power over itself, to be an agent of change. Koch investigates the physical origins of consciousness in the brain and how this knowledge can be used to measure consciousness in natural and artificial systems. Enabled by such tools, Koch reveals when and where consciousness exists, and uses that knowledge to confront major social and scientific questions: When does a fetus first become self-aware? Can psychedelic and mystical experiences transform lives? What happens to consciousness in near-death experiences? Why will generative AI ultimately be able to do the very thing we can do, yet never feel any of it? And do our experiences reveal a single, objective reality? This is an essential book for anyone who seeks to understand ourselves and the future we are creating.
Theo: Growing Up Fast
by Theo WalcottWhen the name of Theo Walcott was included in the England squad for the 2006 World Cup, shock waves ran through the football world. But no one was more surprised than Theo himself.Five years later, Theo Walcott is one of the most recognizable names in football. As the English heart of the brilliant young Arsenal team, he has become a firm favourite at the Emirates Stadium. He represents everything that is good about the beautiful game: a player with his feet on the ground, but lightning quick on the field. He carries the expectations of the nation on his shoulders, especially since one night in Croatia made him the youngest player in history to score a hat-trick for England.It has been an incredible adventure, an unbelievable story for a quiet boy from a small village who only started playing football when he was 10. But how does it feel for your dreams to come true? In Theo: Growing Up Fast, Theo Walcott takes you right inside his world.
Theodora: Portrait in a Byzantine Landscape
by Antony Bridge&“First rate popular history/biography, evoking the Byzantine empire at its peak. A remarkable story in an entertaining, informative book.&” —The Wall Street Journal This is the biography of a Byzantine courtesan who rose from the gutter to the throne of an empire. It is a romantic and improbable story, and Theodora is an extraordinary woman, indeed. Her background and her many actions were scandalous, but she had qualities of greatness and this book sets the record straight. This account of her life is a pageant in which Emperors and barbarian kings, Popes and Patriarchs, eunuchs and generals, heretics and orthodox opponents, charioteers and ladies of easy virtue, saints and sinners move in a formal and splendid rhythm. This formality was often marred by violence: one of the worst riots in Byzantine history took place when Theodora had been empress for a short time, and during much of her reign there was war in Italy, marked by appalling suffering and barbarity. Toward the end of her life, Constantinople was devastated by Bubonic plague. Yet Theodora triumphed over every adverse circumstance, tough and clever to the end. &“ . . . Bridge&’s book, with its exceptionally vivid and evocative style, brings the period alive.&” —Library Journal &“Puts [Theodora] in her own time and place in the vast panorama of the golden age of an empire which lasted 1,100 years.&” —Boston Herald &“Conveys the passion and the fervor of the sixth century A.D.&” —Los Angeles Herald Examiner
The Theological Metaphors of Marx
by Enrique DusselIn The Theological Metaphors of Marx, Enrique Dussel provides a groundbreaking combination of Marxology, theology, and ethical theory. Dussel shows that Marx unveils the theology of capitalism in his critique of commodity fetishization. Capitalism constitutes an idolatry of the commodity that undergirds the capitalist expropriation of labor. Dussel examines Marx’s early writings on religion and fetishism and proceeds through what Dussel refers to as the four major drafts of Capital, ultimately situating Marx’s philosophical, economic, ethical, and historical insights in relation to the theological problems of his time. Dussel notes a shift in Marx’s underlying theological schema from a political critique of the state to an economic critique of the commodity fetish as the Devil, or anti-God, of modernity. Marx’s thought, impact, and influence cannot be fully understood without Dussel’s historic reinterpretation of the theological origins and implications of Marx’s critiques of political economy and politics.
Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Manufacturing Elastomer-Metal Based Vibration Dampers (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Tibor Babos Tamás RennerThis book offers a comprehensive breakdown of rubber industry procedures, serving as an invaluable resource for enhancing professional literacy. It covers measurable technological parameters, manufacturing processes, and metallurgy of the materials required for producing high-value rubber-metal machine components. These components find wide applications in the engineering industry, including buffers, vibration damping elements, pipe expansion joints, and silent blocks (vibration dampers vulcanized between steel pipes). The manufacturing of modern machine components necessitates meeting high technical standards and ensuring flawless performance throughout their lifetime. This goal is accomplished by manufacturing components to the required technical parameters with consistent quality specified during the design stage. Unfortunately, scientific descriptions of rubber-metal bonding technologies often lack the detail required for practical application. This book addresses this gap by presenting extensive research conducted by Renner Rubber Products, a key player in the rubber market in Central Europe, drawing on practical experience from the Centre for Security Studies at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The book provides a set of technological specifications for rubber-metal bonding based on experiments, measurements, calculations, and proven research results. A noteworthy aspect of the book is that it is the result of close scientific collaboration between academia and industry-leading players, resulting in a highly qualified product applicable in science, academia, and industrial production alike. It serves as a valuable tool for anyone in the engineering industry seeking to enhance their understanding of rubber industry procedures and produce high-quality rubber-metal machine components.
Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications
by William CrainTheories of Development introduces students to the most influential theorists who have contributed to our understanding of how we develop as individuals. The book focuses on the theorists who have built upon the developmental tradition established by Rousseau, along with other theorists, including ethologists and psychoanalysts, who share a developmental outlook. It considers the different concepts they present along with their practical implications, whilst also discussing the ways in which developmental theorists have anticipated and advanced humanistic ideas and insights.This edition has been thoroughly updated throughout, and now includes:• A new chapter comparing treatment approaches to autism• Greater attention to Erikson’s theory of identity formation and how it pertains to gender issues• New thoughts on cultural factors in Piaget’s theory• Biographical material on Jane Goodall, Howard Thurman, and Albert Einstein that illustrate developmental processesDemonstrating how we might view the world differently at various stages of life, Theories of Development is a must-read for all students of psychology and education.
Theories Of Personality
by Jess Feist Gregory J. Fest Tomi-Ann RobertsTheories of Personality provides a comprehensive foundation on the nature of personality theory, as well as its contributions to science. Coverage of each theory encompasses a biographical sketch of each theorist, related research, and applications to real life. Written by two preeminent psychology professors, Gregory J. Feist and Tomi-Ann Roberts, this program is engaging and student-friendly introduction to Personality Psychology.
Theory and Application of Hydraulic Modeling: Interaction between Wave and Ground Motion
by Taro ArikawaThis edited volume from Japan’s Research Subcommittee on Methodology for Dealing with Geomaterials in Hydraulic Model Experiments presents readers with a state-of-the-art overview of experimental and computational methods used to address similarity scaling incompatibilities present in fluid–sediment flows.Readers will gain an understanding of complex phenomena in the boundary fields of hydraulics and geotechnical engineering. Chapter contributors focus on the phenomena that are affected by the interactions between fluid wave and ground in a complex field, which for many years have been challenging to process and model. In addition to describing the implementation of model tests and the concept of the law of similarity, this book contrasts these phenomena with the laws of similarity, describes models and numeral analysis methods, and explains important considerations using experimental case studies. Each chapter is written by leading researchers in Japan who are members of the Research Subcommittee on Methodology for Dealing with Geomaterials in Hydraulic Model Experiments. The chapters are closely linked but are written so that each can be read individually. Readers will be able to apply this knowledge to their work and to create models that more accurately simulate the interactions between wave and ground, allowing them to better understand these phenomena and devise more appropriate strategies for defense and so on when necessary.This collection provides information that can be used by young researchers and post-graduate students in the boundary fields of hydraulics and geotechnical engineering who aim at becoming civil engineers, and it will be of particular value to practicing engineers of all experience levels who must regularly analyze complex interactions between fluids and ground.
Theory and Computation of Electromagnetic Fields in Layered Media (IEEE Press Series on Electromagnetic Wave Theory)
by Vladimir Okhmatovski Shucheng ZhengExplore the algorithms and numerical methods used to compute electromagnetic fields in multi-layered media In Theory and Computation of Electromagnetic Fields in Layered Media, two distinguished electrical engineering researchers deliver a detailed and up-to-date overview of the theory and numerical methods used to determine electromagnetic fields in layered media. The book begins with an introduction to Maxwell’s equations, the fundamentals of electromagnetic theory, and concepts and definitions relating to Green’s function. It then moves on to solve canonical problems in vertical and horizontal dipole radiation, describe Method of Moments schemes, discuss integral equations governing electromagnetic fields, and explains the Michalski-Zheng theory of mixed-potential Green’s function representation in multi-layered media. Chapters on the evaluation of Sommerfeld integrals, procedures for far field evaluation, and the theory and application of hierarchical matrices are also included, along with: A thorough introduction to free-space Green’s functions, including the delta-function model for point charge and dipole current Comprehensive explorations of the traditional form of layered medium Green’s function in three dimensions Practical discussions of electro-quasi-static and magneto-quasi-static fields in layered media, including electrostatic fields in two and three dimensions In-depth examinations of the rational function fitting method, including direct spectra fitting with VECTFIT algorithms Perfect for scholars and students of electromagnetic analysis in layered media, Theory and Computation of Electromagnetic Fields in Layered Media will also earn a place in the libraries of CAD industry engineers and software developers working in the area of computational electromagnetics.
The Theory and Practice of Recognition (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy)
by Onni Hirvonen Heikki J. KoskinenThis volume presents new essays on the theory and practice of recognition. In order to retain its overall plausibility as a critical social theory, contemporary recognition theory needs to be able to successfully combine theory with real-life perspectives, in both contemporary and historical contexts.Contemporary recognition theory has developed into an established and active multidisciplinary research programme. The chapters in this volume have two main purposes. First, they engage in theoretical development of the contemporary theories of recognition. They explore the conceptual histories and the environments of recognition, as well as the connection between recognition and authenticity, emancipation, and social ontology. Second, they connect the theoretical insights of contemporary recognition with analyses of contemporary and historical social practices. These contributions explore themes such as populism and polarization, models of harmful invisibilization and social ignorance, the problem of evil and suffering, and social justice phenomena such as the #MeToo movement.The Theory and Practice of Recognition will be of interest to scholars and advanced students working in social and political philosophy, social ontology, political theory, and sociology.
Theory of Elastic Wave Propagation and its Application to Scattering Problems
by Terumi TouheiElastic wave propagation applies to a wide variety of fields, including seismology, non-destructive testing, energy resource exploration, and site characterization. New applications for elastic waves are still being discovered. Theory of Elastic Wave Propagation and its Application to Scattering Problems starts from the standpoint of continuum mechanics, explaining stress and strain tensors in terms of mathematics and physics, and showing the derivation of equations for elastic wave motions, to give readers a stronger foundation. It emphasizes the importance of Green’s function for applications of the elastic wave equation to practical engineering problems and covers elastic wave propagation in a half-space, in addition to the spectral representation of Green’s function. Finally, the MUSIC algorithm is used to address inverse scattering problems. Offers comprehensive coverage of fundamental concepts through to contemporary applications of elastic wave propagation Bridges the gap between theoretical principles and practical engineering solutions The book’s website provides the author’s software for analyzing elastic wave propagations, along with detailed answers to the problems presented, to suit graduate students across engineering and applied mathematics.
Theory of Obligations in International Law (Routledge Research in International Law)
by Cezary MikExamining the fulfilment of international obligations by subjects of this law, this book explores the normative and functional links between the sources and rules of international law on the one hand, and the responsibility for violating international law on the other. In the sphere of law-making, the theory of obligations allows for a more precise and considered formulation of international obligations. It has the potential to enable subjects of international law to behave more rationally, allowing deeper reflection on whether to take on obligations and how to properly perform them. This book proposes a new approach to the issue of the proper operation of international law, with the theory of obligations at its heart. Linking the institutions and concepts of international law into a rational whole, the book offers an analysis of the operation of international law and the behaviour of its subjects to develop a framework for ensuring the ultimate effectiveness of international law. Analysing sources of law including treaties and common law, alongside the resolutions of international organisations, this book demonstrates the practical application of the subject with reference to the jurisprudence of international courts and other bodies. The volume will be of interest to scholars, students, and practitioners concerned with international law – its creation, performance, application, compliance, and enforcement.
Theory of Statistical Inference (Chapman & Hall/CRC Texts in Statistical Science)
by Anthony AlmudevarTheory of Statistical Inference is designed as a reference on statistical inference for researchers and students at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level. It presents a unified treatment of the foundational ideas of modern statistical inference, and would be suitable for a core course in a graduate program in statistics or biostatistics. The emphasis is on the application of mathematical theory to the problem of inference, leading to an optimization theory allowing the choice of those statistical methods yielding the most efficient use of data. The book shows how a small number of key concepts, such as sufficiency, invariance, stochastic ordering, decision theory and vector space algebra play a recurring and unifying role. The volume can be divided into four sections. Part I provides a review of the required distribution theory. Part II introduces the problem of statistical inference. This includes the definitions of the exponential family, invariant and Bayesian models. Basic concepts of estimation, confidence intervals and hypothesis testing are introduced here. Part III constitutes the core of the volume, presenting a formal theory of statistical inference. Beginning with decision theory, this section then covers uniformly minimum variance unbiased (UMVU) estimation, minimum risk equivariant (MRE) estimation and the Neyman-Pearson test. Finally, Part IV introduces large sample theory. This section begins with stochastic limit theorems, the δ-method, the Bahadur representation theorem for sample quantiles, large sample U-estimation, the Cramér-Rao lower bound and asymptotic efficiency. A separate chapter is then devoted to estimating equation methods. The volume ends with a detailed development of large sample hypothesis testing, based on the likelihood ratio test (LRT), Rao score test and the Wald test. Features This volume includes treatment of linear and nonlinear regression models, ANOVA models, generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized estimating equations (GEE). An introduction to decision theory (including risk, admissibility, classification, Bayes and minimax decision rules) is presented. The importance of this sometimes overlooked topic to statistical methodology is emphasized. The volume emphasizes throughout the important role that can be played by group theory and invariance in statistical inference. Nonparametric (rank-based) methods are derived by the same principles used for parametric models and are therefore presented as solutions to well-defined mathematical problems, rather than as robust heuristic alternatives to parametric methods. Each chapter ends with a set of theoretical and applied exercises integrated with the main text. Problems involving R programming are included. Appendices summarize the necessary background in analysis, matrix algebra and group theory.
Therapeutic Medicinal Plants in Traditional Persian Medicine (Exploring Medicinal Plants)
by Roja Rahimi Roodabeh BahramsoltaniTraditional Persian Medicine (TPM) is one of the oldest medical doctrines, globally known due to pioneering physicians and scientists. The greatest source of natural medicines in TPM originates from medicinal plants. Therapeutic Medicinal Plants in Traditional Persian Medicine provides a background on the history of TPM, as well as an introduction to 40 of the most popular medicinal plants used in TPM. It is a practical guide for readers interested in medicinal plants used in the prevention, management, and treatment of different diseases.Features: Includes both traditional therapeutic applications and modern evidence/ uses Makes a comparison between preclinical and clinical studies Provides information on major chemical constituents, therapeutic uses, adverse reactions, and safety for each plant species A volume in the “Exploring Medicinal Plants” series, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, students, academicians, and scientists dealing witth medicinal plants, as well as for those interested in the fields of pharmacognosy, naturopathy, phytotherapy, and traditional medicines.
The Therapeutic Power of the Maggie’s Centre: Experience, Design and Wellbeing, Where Architecture meets Neuroscience
by Caterina FrisoneThis book is about the therapeutic environment of the Maggie’s centre and explores the many ways this is achieved. With an unconventional architecture as required by the design brief, combined with Maggie’s psychological support programme, this special health facility allows extraordinary therapeutic effects in people, to the point that one can speak of therapeutic power.After tracing the story of the Maggie’s centre, the book reveals its fundamentals: Maggie’s Therapeutikos (the-mind-as-important-as-the-body), the Architectural Brief and the ‘Client-Architect-Users’ Triad. It continues by unfolding Maggie’s synergy-that between people and place-which increases users’ psychological flexibility helping them tolerate what was intolerable before. Although comfort and atmospheres are paramount, they are not enough to define the therapeutic environment of the Maggie’s centre. Only by looking at neuroscience that can give us scientific explanations of empathy, feelings and emotions and only considering space neither neutral nor empty, but full of forces that envelop people in an embodied experience, can we explain what generates wellbeing in a Maggie’s centre.The book concludes by critically evaluating the Maggie’s centre as a model to be applied to other healthcare facilities and to architecture in general. It is essential reading for any student or professional working on therapeutic environments.
The Therapy Crouch: In Search of Happy (N)ever After
by Abbey Clancy Peter CrouchJoin the nation's favourite married couple and chart-topping podcast hosts, Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch, as they discuss the realities of modern relationships in this hilarious and relatable guide.From the moment you swipe right or lock eyes across a crowded bar, you step onto a rollercoaster ride of dating, first kisses and romantic weekends away. Then before you know it, you're meeting the in-laws, moving in together and walking down the aisle. It's not all highs, there are lows too: you've got your other half's annoying habits to discover and you need to learn how to win every argument in pursuit of always being right.When kids come along, sexy text messages make way for school whatsapp groups and suddenly you have no time for one another. Life is a blur of nappies, sleepless nights and chauffeuring as your offspring embark on a more colourful social life than you could dream of. That first date might just be the start of a relationship that lasts for the rest of your life, so choose wisely.From hooking up to breaking up and getting together to staying together, join us as we navigate our way through the trials and tribulations of dating and relationships. Celebrating all that's good and bad about being in pursuit of love, we ask can you ever find you happy ever after?
There And Back Again: An Actor's Tale
by Joe Layden Sean AstinWhen Sean Astin, veteran Hollywood actor of over 30 movies including The Goonies, and Rudy, landed the part of Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, he knew it was going to be different to anything he'd ever worked on before. Here he shares his heartfelt opinions on his early movies, how he got the part of Sam at that point in his career, and what it was like to be on set for nearly two years of his life. How did he and the other cast members get along? What were the excitements and the dangers they faced during filming? What happened the evening that Elijah Wood lost the keys to his room? How did Sir Ian McKellen cope when he didn't like the music the hobbits listened to during make-up and what happened when the crew considered striking?Revealing and immensely readable, There and Back Again is the behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to be involved in the making of one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.