Author: Paul D. Balmert
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119906679
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 325
Book Description
Alive and Well at the End of the Day Practical book showing professionals the “what to dos” and “how to dos” for effective safety leadership The Second Edition of Alive and Well at the End of the Day provides industrial leaders in operations with practical solutions to the tough safety leadership challenges they must manage. The book describes in detail the nature of those challenges (what makes them that tough) and offers proven best practices to successfully deal with them. The practices described in the book come from the author’s first-hand observation of leaders in operations who were successful in leading and managing safety performance. These best practices are defined and described in detail, allowing the reader to immediately and successfully put them into practice. In addition to providing “what to do” and “how to do that” for effective safety leadership, the book also explains “how it works” and “why to do it that way.” By taking this approach, the book provides deeper insight and understanding in addition to effective practices. The book’s contents are organized in a way that allows the reader the ability to match up chapters with specific challenges they are facing. In Alive and Well at the End of the Day, readers can expect to find discussion on: The practice of leadership, Moments of High Influence, Managing By Walking Around, and following all the rules, all the time Recognizing hazards and managing risk, behavior, consequences, and attitude, the power of good questions, and making change happen Managing accountability, safety meetings worth having, managing safety suggestions, creating the culture you want, and investing in training Understanding what went wrong, measuring safety performance, managing safety dilemmas, leading from the middle, and common mistakes managers make Leaders in industrial operations responsible for leading and managing safety performance, from CEOs to frontline leaders, can use Alive and Well at the End of the Day, in conjunction with the included study guide, to understand and implement a powerful process to improve the supervisor’s practice of safety leadership.
Alive and Well at the End of the Day
Author: Paul D. Balmert
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119906679
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 325
Book Description
Alive and Well at the End of the Day Practical book showing professionals the “what to dos” and “how to dos” for effective safety leadership The Second Edition of Alive and Well at the End of the Day provides industrial leaders in operations with practical solutions to the tough safety leadership challenges they must manage. The book describes in detail the nature of those challenges (what makes them that tough) and offers proven best practices to successfully deal with them. The practices described in the book come from the author’s first-hand observation of leaders in operations who were successful in leading and managing safety performance. These best practices are defined and described in detail, allowing the reader to immediately and successfully put them into practice. In addition to providing “what to do” and “how to do that” for effective safety leadership, the book also explains “how it works” and “why to do it that way.” By taking this approach, the book provides deeper insight and understanding in addition to effective practices. The book’s contents are organized in a way that allows the reader the ability to match up chapters with specific challenges they are facing. In Alive and Well at the End of the Day, readers can expect to find discussion on: The practice of leadership, Moments of High Influence, Managing By Walking Around, and following all the rules, all the time Recognizing hazards and managing risk, behavior, consequences, and attitude, the power of good questions, and making change happen Managing accountability, safety meetings worth having, managing safety suggestions, creating the culture you want, and investing in training Understanding what went wrong, measuring safety performance, managing safety dilemmas, leading from the middle, and common mistakes managers make Leaders in industrial operations responsible for leading and managing safety performance, from CEOs to frontline leaders, can use Alive and Well at the End of the Day, in conjunction with the included study guide, to understand and implement a powerful process to improve the supervisor’s practice of safety leadership.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119906679
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 325
Book Description
Alive and Well at the End of the Day Practical book showing professionals the “what to dos” and “how to dos” for effective safety leadership The Second Edition of Alive and Well at the End of the Day provides industrial leaders in operations with practical solutions to the tough safety leadership challenges they must manage. The book describes in detail the nature of those challenges (what makes them that tough) and offers proven best practices to successfully deal with them. The practices described in the book come from the author’s first-hand observation of leaders in operations who were successful in leading and managing safety performance. These best practices are defined and described in detail, allowing the reader to immediately and successfully put them into practice. In addition to providing “what to do” and “how to do that” for effective safety leadership, the book also explains “how it works” and “why to do it that way.” By taking this approach, the book provides deeper insight and understanding in addition to effective practices. The book’s contents are organized in a way that allows the reader the ability to match up chapters with specific challenges they are facing. In Alive and Well at the End of the Day, readers can expect to find discussion on: The practice of leadership, Moments of High Influence, Managing By Walking Around, and following all the rules, all the time Recognizing hazards and managing risk, behavior, consequences, and attitude, the power of good questions, and making change happen Managing accountability, safety meetings worth having, managing safety suggestions, creating the culture you want, and investing in training Understanding what went wrong, measuring safety performance, managing safety dilemmas, leading from the middle, and common mistakes managers make Leaders in industrial operations responsible for leading and managing safety performance, from CEOs to frontline leaders, can use Alive and Well at the End of the Day, in conjunction with the included study guide, to understand and implement a powerful process to improve the supervisor’s practice of safety leadership.
Study Guide for Alive and Well at the End of the Day
Author: Paul D. Balmert
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119906709
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 71
Book Description
STUDY GUIDE FOR Alive and Well at the End of the Day Teaching aid underscoring the principles of effective safety leadership The Second Edition of Alive and Well at the End of the Day provides industrial leaders in operations with practical solutions to the tough safety leadership challenges they must manage. The book describes in detail the nature of those challenges (what makes them that tough) and offers proven best practices to successfully deal with them. The Study Guide is designed as a teaching aid for the Alive and Well book. Created by the highly experienced training specialists of Balmert Consulting, the Study Guide uses training best practices to help affix the concepts of Alive and Well in the minds of professional students. The use of strategically-crafted questions—both at the beginning and end of each review session—allows the student to work with the material conceptually, becoming more familiar and facile with it. Alive and Well is designed to teach front-line supervisors of workers in a wide range of industries how to help and guide their employees to understand the risks involved in the various aspects of their work, and how to cope with those risks and to plan and execute their jobs in ways that can help eliminate injuries. The topic of the Study Guide is the content of the book; its purpose is to help both supervisors and those reporting to them to more sharply focus on the principles in the book; to more fully understand and remember them; and to be able to apply them in everyday work situations.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119906709
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 71
Book Description
STUDY GUIDE FOR Alive and Well at the End of the Day Teaching aid underscoring the principles of effective safety leadership The Second Edition of Alive and Well at the End of the Day provides industrial leaders in operations with practical solutions to the tough safety leadership challenges they must manage. The book describes in detail the nature of those challenges (what makes them that tough) and offers proven best practices to successfully deal with them. The Study Guide is designed as a teaching aid for the Alive and Well book. Created by the highly experienced training specialists of Balmert Consulting, the Study Guide uses training best practices to help affix the concepts of Alive and Well in the minds of professional students. The use of strategically-crafted questions—both at the beginning and end of each review session—allows the student to work with the material conceptually, becoming more familiar and facile with it. Alive and Well is designed to teach front-line supervisors of workers in a wide range of industries how to help and guide their employees to understand the risks involved in the various aspects of their work, and how to cope with those risks and to plan and execute their jobs in ways that can help eliminate injuries. The topic of the Study Guide is the content of the book; its purpose is to help both supervisors and those reporting to them to more sharply focus on the principles in the book; to more fully understand and remember them; and to be able to apply them in everyday work situations.
If We Were Villains
Author: M. L. Rio
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN: 1250095301
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
“Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest "Nerdily (and winningly) in love with Shakespeare...Readable, smart.” —New York Times Book Review On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it. A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extras. But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent. If We Were Villains was named one of Bustle's Best Thriller Novels of the Year, and Mystery Scene says, "A well-written and gripping ode to the stage...A fascinating, unorthodox take on rivalry, friendship, and truth."
Publisher: Flatiron Books
ISBN: 1250095301
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
“Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest "Nerdily (and winningly) in love with Shakespeare...Readable, smart.” —New York Times Book Review On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it. A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extras. But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent. If We Were Villains was named one of Bustle's Best Thriller Novels of the Year, and Mystery Scene says, "A well-written and gripping ode to the stage...A fascinating, unorthodox take on rivalry, friendship, and truth."
Alive and Well in Prague, New York
Author: Daphne Grab
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061918296
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 262
Book Description
Matisse Osgood is a New York City girl through and through. She buys her clothes at Andy's Cheapies, watches indie films at the Angelika, and wouldn't be caught dead on a hayride. But when her father gets sick and Matisse's parents decide to leave Man-hattan for a small town in upstate New York, her perfect world crumbles. As Matisse trudges through life in Prague, she dreams of waking up in her apartment on West 78th Street with a father who's well enough to walk with her in Central Park and a mother who doesn't pretend that everything is okay. When rumors surround Matisse at school and her father's symptoms worsen, Matisse realizes that the friends she's making in Prague are the kind you can count on. They help Matisse find the strength to reach out to her father, who may not be as far from her as she thought. And one particular farm boy shows Matisse that country living is a lot more magical than she ever imagined.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061918296
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 262
Book Description
Matisse Osgood is a New York City girl through and through. She buys her clothes at Andy's Cheapies, watches indie films at the Angelika, and wouldn't be caught dead on a hayride. But when her father gets sick and Matisse's parents decide to leave Man-hattan for a small town in upstate New York, her perfect world crumbles. As Matisse trudges through life in Prague, she dreams of waking up in her apartment on West 78th Street with a father who's well enough to walk with her in Central Park and a mother who doesn't pretend that everything is okay. When rumors surround Matisse at school and her father's symptoms worsen, Matisse realizes that the friends she's making in Prague are the kind you can count on. They help Matisse find the strength to reach out to her father, who may not be as far from her as she thought. And one particular farm boy shows Matisse that country living is a lot more magical than she ever imagined.
Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede
Author: Bradley Denton
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781978443679
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 660
Book Description
When televisions worldwide begin broadcasting a nonstop, noninterruptible live performance by Buddy Holly purporting to originate somewhere in the vicinity of Jupiter, Oliver Vale--the apparent object of the broadcasts--finds himself drafted for a mission so secret that even he is not sure of its purpose.
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781978443679
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 660
Book Description
When televisions worldwide begin broadcasting a nonstop, noninterruptible live performance by Buddy Holly purporting to originate somewhere in the vicinity of Jupiter, Oliver Vale--the apparent object of the broadcasts--finds himself drafted for a mission so secret that even he is not sure of its purpose.
Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 153872474X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 295
Book Description
Whose truth is the lie? Stay up all night reading the sensational psychological thriller that has readers obsessed, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Too Late and It Ends With Us. #1 New York Times Bestseller · USA Today Bestseller · Globe and Mail Bestseller · Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night her family was forever altered. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents could devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her.
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 153872474X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 295
Book Description
Whose truth is the lie? Stay up all night reading the sensational psychological thriller that has readers obsessed, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Too Late and It Ends With Us. #1 New York Times Bestseller · USA Today Bestseller · Globe and Mail Bestseller · Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of the night her family was forever altered. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents could devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue loving her.
Alive
Author: Chandler Baker
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 1484709187
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 347
Book Description
Stella Cross's heart is poisoned. After years on the transplant waiting list, she's running out of hope that she'll ever see her eighteenth birthday. Then, miraculously, Stella receives the transplant she needs to survive. Determined to embrace everything she came so close to losing, Stella throws herself into her new life. But her recovery is marred with strange side effects: Nightmares. Hallucinations. A recurring pain that flares every day at the exact same moment. Then Stella meets Levi Zin, the new boy on everyone's radar at her Seattle prep school. Stella has never felt more drawn to anyone in her life, and soon she and Levi can barely stand to be apart. Stella is convinced that Levi is her soul mate. Why else would she literally ache for him when they are apart? After all, the heart never lies . . . does it?
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 1484709187
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 347
Book Description
Stella Cross's heart is poisoned. After years on the transplant waiting list, she's running out of hope that she'll ever see her eighteenth birthday. Then, miraculously, Stella receives the transplant she needs to survive. Determined to embrace everything she came so close to losing, Stella throws herself into her new life. But her recovery is marred with strange side effects: Nightmares. Hallucinations. A recurring pain that flares every day at the exact same moment. Then Stella meets Levi Zin, the new boy on everyone's radar at her Seattle prep school. Stella has never felt more drawn to anyone in her life, and soon she and Levi can barely stand to be apart. Stella is convinced that Levi is her soul mate. Why else would she literally ache for him when they are apart? After all, the heart never lies . . . does it?
Alive Day
Author: Tom Sullivan
Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM
ISBN: 1418576832
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
Based on a true story, Alive Day is an inspiring, affirming tale about a troubled Marine and a big-hearted Labrador who shows him the power of love, loyalty, and truly living. A Marine's "Alive Day" celebrates the survival after an almost certain death. It's a time of hope and joy. But Antwone Carver isn't celebrating. Home from war but not quite whole, Antwone's having trouble dealing with his new physical limitations. Psychiatrist Brenden McCarthy can relate. He thought he'd lost everything when he was blinded in a mountain climbing accident. But with God's help, he's now living a satisfying life and feels called to help Antwone do the same. The problem is, he's hit one dead end after another trying to reach this bitter young Marine. Enter Brenden's big-hearted and courageous black Labrador, Nelson. With boundless energy, contagious optimism, and a big heart, Nelson shows them both what it means to live a truly abundant life. Praise for Alive Day: "Characters you will savor and cherish. Unforgettable." —Betty White Full-length inspirational novel Perfect for pet lovers who enjoy stories of hope, optimism, and trust The journey Brenden began in the heartwarming novel Together continues with Alive Day
Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM
ISBN: 1418576832
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 237
Book Description
Based on a true story, Alive Day is an inspiring, affirming tale about a troubled Marine and a big-hearted Labrador who shows him the power of love, loyalty, and truly living. A Marine's "Alive Day" celebrates the survival after an almost certain death. It's a time of hope and joy. But Antwone Carver isn't celebrating. Home from war but not quite whole, Antwone's having trouble dealing with his new physical limitations. Psychiatrist Brenden McCarthy can relate. He thought he'd lost everything when he was blinded in a mountain climbing accident. But with God's help, he's now living a satisfying life and feels called to help Antwone do the same. The problem is, he's hit one dead end after another trying to reach this bitter young Marine. Enter Brenden's big-hearted and courageous black Labrador, Nelson. With boundless energy, contagious optimism, and a big heart, Nelson shows them both what it means to live a truly abundant life. Praise for Alive Day: "Characters you will savor and cherish. Unforgettable." —Betty White Full-length inspirational novel Perfect for pet lovers who enjoy stories of hope, optimism, and trust The journey Brenden began in the heartwarming novel Together continues with Alive Day
How to Die
Author: Ray Robertson
Publisher: Biblioasis
ISBN: 1771960957
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 129
Book Description
A radical revaluation of how contemporary society perceives death—and an argument for how it can make us happy. “He who would teach men to die would teach them to live,” writes Montaigne in Essais, and in How to Die: A Book about Being Alive, Ray Robertson takes up the challenge. Though contemporary society avoids the subject and often values the mere continuation of existence over its quality, Robertson argues that the active and intentional consideration of death is neither morbid nor frivolous, but instead essential to our ability to fully value life. How to Die is both an absorbing excursion through some of Western literature’s most compelling works on the subject of death as well as an anecdote-driven argument for cultivating a better understanding of death in the belief that, if we do, we’ll know more about what it means to live a meaningful life.
Publisher: Biblioasis
ISBN: 1771960957
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 129
Book Description
A radical revaluation of how contemporary society perceives death—and an argument for how it can make us happy. “He who would teach men to die would teach them to live,” writes Montaigne in Essais, and in How to Die: A Book about Being Alive, Ray Robertson takes up the challenge. Though contemporary society avoids the subject and often values the mere continuation of existence over its quality, Robertson argues that the active and intentional consideration of death is neither morbid nor frivolous, but instead essential to our ability to fully value life. How to Die is both an absorbing excursion through some of Western literature’s most compelling works on the subject of death as well as an anecdote-driven argument for cultivating a better understanding of death in the belief that, if we do, we’ll know more about what it means to live a meaningful life.
I Know This Much Is True
Author: Wally Lamb
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780060391621
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 884
Book Description
With his stunning debut novel, She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb won the adulation of critics and readers with his mesmerizing tale of one woman's painful yet triumphant journey of self-discovery. Now, this brilliantly talented writer returns with I Know This Much Is True, a heartbreaking and poignant multigenerational saga of the reproductive bonds of destruction and the powerful force of forgiveness. A masterpiece that breathtakingly tells a story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal--this novel is a contemporary retelling of an ancient Hindu myth. A proud king must confront his demons to achieve salvation. Change yourself, the myth instructs, and you will inhabit a renovated world. When you're the same brother of a schizophrenic identical twin, the tricky thing about saving yourself is the blood it leaves on your bands--the little inconvenience of the look-alike corpse at your feet. And if you're into both survival of the fittest and being your brother's keeper--if you've promised your dying mother--then say so long to sleep and hello to the middle of the night. Grab a book or a beer. Get used to Letterman's gap-toothed smile of the absurd, or the view of the bedroom ceiling, or the influence of random selection. Take it from a godless insomniac. Take it from the uncrazy twin--the guy who beat the biochemical rap. Dominick Birdsey's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both deeply loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and-polish ex-Navy man (the five-foot-six-inch sleeping giant who snoozed upstairs weekdays in the spare room and built submarines at night), and their long-suffering mother, Concettina, a timid woman with a harelip that made her shy and self-conscious: She holds a loose fist to her face to cover her defective mouth--her perpetual apology to the world for a birth defect over which she'd had no control. Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities: the seemingly strong and protective yet fearful Dominick, his mother's watchful "monkey"; and the seemingly weak and sweet yet noble Thomas, his mother's gentle "bunny." From childhood, Dominick fights for both separation and wholeness--and ultimately self-protection--in a house of fear dominated by Ray, a bully who abuses his power over these stepsons whose biological father is a mystery. I was still afraid of his anger but saw how he punished weakness--pounced on it. Out of self-preservation I hid my fear, Dominick confesses. As for Thomas, he just never knew how to play defense. He just didn't get it. But Dominick's talent for survival comes at an enormous cost, including the breakup of his marriage to the warm, beautiful Dessa, whom he still loves. And it will be put to the ultimate test when Thomas, a Bible-spouting zealot, commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself, and the sins of his ancestors--a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily 's Mount Etna, where his ambitious and vengefully proud grandfather and a namesake Domenico Tempesta, the sostegno del famiglia, was born. Each of the stories Ma told us about Papa reinforced the message that he was the boss, that he ruled the roost, that what he said went. Searching for answers, Dominick turns to the whispers of the dead, to the pages of his grandfather's handwritten memoir, The History of Domenico Onofrio Tempesta, a Great Man from Humble Beginnings. Rendered with touches of magic realism, Domenico's fablelike tale--in which monkeys enchant and religious statues weep--becomes the old man's confession--an unwitting legacy of contrition that reveals the truth's of Domenico's life, Dominick learns that power, wrongly used, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed, and now, picking through the humble shards of his deconstructed life, he will search for the courage and love to forgive, to expiate his and his ancestors' transgressions, and finally to rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his twin. Set against the vivid panoply of twentieth-century America and filled with richly drawn, memorable characters, this deeply moving and thoroughly satisfying novel brings to light humanity's deepest needs and fears, our aloneness, our desire for love and acceptance, our struggle to survive at all costs. Joyous, mystical, and exquisitely written, I Know This Much Is True is an extraordinary reading experience that will leave no reader untouched.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780060391621
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 884
Book Description
With his stunning debut novel, She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb won the adulation of critics and readers with his mesmerizing tale of one woman's painful yet triumphant journey of self-discovery. Now, this brilliantly talented writer returns with I Know This Much Is True, a heartbreaking and poignant multigenerational saga of the reproductive bonds of destruction and the powerful force of forgiveness. A masterpiece that breathtakingly tells a story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal--this novel is a contemporary retelling of an ancient Hindu myth. A proud king must confront his demons to achieve salvation. Change yourself, the myth instructs, and you will inhabit a renovated world. When you're the same brother of a schizophrenic identical twin, the tricky thing about saving yourself is the blood it leaves on your bands--the little inconvenience of the look-alike corpse at your feet. And if you're into both survival of the fittest and being your brother's keeper--if you've promised your dying mother--then say so long to sleep and hello to the middle of the night. Grab a book or a beer. Get used to Letterman's gap-toothed smile of the absurd, or the view of the bedroom ceiling, or the influence of random selection. Take it from a godless insomniac. Take it from the uncrazy twin--the guy who beat the biochemical rap. Dominick Birdsey's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both deeply loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and-polish ex-Navy man (the five-foot-six-inch sleeping giant who snoozed upstairs weekdays in the spare room and built submarines at night), and their long-suffering mother, Concettina, a timid woman with a harelip that made her shy and self-conscious: She holds a loose fist to her face to cover her defective mouth--her perpetual apology to the world for a birth defect over which she'd had no control. Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities: the seemingly strong and protective yet fearful Dominick, his mother's watchful "monkey"; and the seemingly weak and sweet yet noble Thomas, his mother's gentle "bunny." From childhood, Dominick fights for both separation and wholeness--and ultimately self-protection--in a house of fear dominated by Ray, a bully who abuses his power over these stepsons whose biological father is a mystery. I was still afraid of his anger but saw how he punished weakness--pounced on it. Out of self-preservation I hid my fear, Dominick confesses. As for Thomas, he just never knew how to play defense. He just didn't get it. But Dominick's talent for survival comes at an enormous cost, including the breakup of his marriage to the warm, beautiful Dessa, whom he still loves. And it will be put to the ultimate test when Thomas, a Bible-spouting zealot, commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself, and the sins of his ancestors--a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily 's Mount Etna, where his ambitious and vengefully proud grandfather and a namesake Domenico Tempesta, the sostegno del famiglia, was born. Each of the stories Ma told us about Papa reinforced the message that he was the boss, that he ruled the roost, that what he said went. Searching for answers, Dominick turns to the whispers of the dead, to the pages of his grandfather's handwritten memoir, The History of Domenico Onofrio Tempesta, a Great Man from Humble Beginnings. Rendered with touches of magic realism, Domenico's fablelike tale--in which monkeys enchant and religious statues weep--becomes the old man's confession--an unwitting legacy of contrition that reveals the truth's of Domenico's life, Dominick learns that power, wrongly used, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed, and now, picking through the humble shards of his deconstructed life, he will search for the courage and love to forgive, to expiate his and his ancestors' transgressions, and finally to rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his twin. Set against the vivid panoply of twentieth-century America and filled with richly drawn, memorable characters, this deeply moving and thoroughly satisfying novel brings to light humanity's deepest needs and fears, our aloneness, our desire for love and acceptance, our struggle to survive at all costs. Joyous, mystical, and exquisitely written, I Know This Much Is True is an extraordinary reading experience that will leave no reader untouched.