The Slow Breath of Stone

The Slow Breath of Stone
Author: Pamela Petro
Publisher: Fourth Estate (GB)
Total Pages: 326
Release: 2005
Genre: Art
ISBN:

In the years following the devastations of the first world war, a brilliant, young American couple, Kingsley and Lucy Porter, travelled to south-west France to document the abbeys and basilicas of the Romanesque period. Their extraordinary photographs revealed some of the most feverishly inventive stonescapes in Europe, stories chiselled from the Bible and nightmares: rams playing harps and devils eating men's brains; a female centaur pulling a mermaid's hair; women suckling snakes at their breasts. For the Porters, these were images of an imagined world that unlocked secrets of the eleventh century but, menacingly, cast a dark shadow over their marriage. In The Slow Breath of Stone, Pamela Petro rents a car and, using the Porter's photographs and Lucy's journal as her map, retraces their journey through the wild landscapes of the Rouergue. She visits the beautiful and disturbing sculptures of monsters and animals devouring prey that adorn the cathedrals of Cahors and Carcassonne, and she explores a limestone quarry from where these great slabs of stone were hewn a thousand years ago. She walks the routes of pilgrimages, testaments to the tenacity of human hope, meeting people along the way and savouring the local food and wine. Above all, she journeys deep into the strange relationship of the sexually incompatible Lucy and Kingsley, following them to Donegal where their marriage was to end tragically and mysteriously on the cliffs of Inishbofin. An absorbing travel book, a meditation on geology, photography, Romanesque art and the romance of physical decline, The Slow Breath of Stone throws a mirror on Europe of the Middle Ages and its hold on us today.

The Slow Breath of Stone: A Romanesque Love Story

The Slow Breath of Stone: A Romanesque Love Story
Author: Pamela Petro
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Total Pages: 383
Release: 2011-11-24
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 0007445806

An absorbing travel book, a meditation on geology, photography, Romanesque art and the romance of physical decline, The Slow Breath of Stone throws a mirror on Europe of the Middle Ages and its hold on us today.

Glenveagh Mystery

Glenveagh Mystery
Author: Lucy Costigan
Publisher: Merrion Press
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2012-11-08
Genre: History
ISBN: 1908928166

Arthur Kingsley Porter, (1883 1933) renowned American, Harvard professor and owner of Glenveagh Castle, vanished without trace from Inishbofin Island, Co. Donegal, in 1933. No trace of the professor was ever found. Over the decades stories of Porter's disappearance turned into legend. A strong swimmer and always fond of the outdoors, was it likely that Porter had been drowned by misadventure or was foul play involved? Perhaps Porter took off alone to pursue new adventures? By the late 1920s Porter and his wife Lucy possessed every asset that most mortals can only dream of. But was there a dark secret that led the enigmatic professor to jump from the rocks on that fateful morning? The truth about the secret inner world of Arthur Kingsley Porter has only recently been revealed. In a historical thriller set in Ireland, America and Europe in the 1920s and 30s, Lucy Costigan conjures up the world of Irish cultural and rural life, examines Porter s friendship with the literary figure AE and Irish society luminaries, and celebrates the raw beauty of Glenveagh and Donegal.

The Seven Stones

The Seven Stones
Author: A. Mussbacher
Publisher: FriesenPress
Total Pages: 367
Release: 2024-06-07
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1039161448

In the aftermath of a brutal war spanning two decades, the Empire of Lamora finds itself on the brink of surrender. With a fragile ceasefire in place, the Lamoran empress ventures into enemy territory, guided by the renowned military hero, General Leona Almadzi. Yet, a sense of trepidation gnaws at the general, as she suspects that this act of diplomacy may be a carefully laid trap. While General Almadzi remains focused on safeguarding the empress, an opportunity presents itself to Leas Steele, the cunning mastermind behind the notorious Thieves' Guild. Seizing the chance to exploit the political turmoil, Leas aims to satisfy her own ambitions. Little do they know that their paths are about to intersect in the most unexpected way. An audacious assassination attempt shatters the ceremony, throwing both the general and the thief into a whirlwind of chaos. Bound together by circumstance, they become entangled in a web of deceit, murder, and betrayal. As Leas manipulates the situation to prevent General Almadzi from slipping away, the general uncovers a sinister plot that not only threatens her nation but also poses a grave danger to the world at large. Desperate for answers and driven by a shared desire for justice, General Almadzi reluctantly turns to Leas, recognizing that the thief may hold the key to unveiling the truth. Engaged in a perilous game of cat and mouse, the general must set aside her pride and outwit Leas to navigate a landscape fraught with danger. Yet, lurking behind their every move are forces far more formidable than either of them could have anticipated. As they grapple for control, they soon realize that the puppeteers pulling the strings are far too powerful to be subdued. Step into a world where honor clashes with cunning, and loyalties are tested against the backdrop of an ancient conflict. In this thrilling tale of mystery and suspense, General Leona Almadzi and Leas Steele will discover that the fate of nations and the destiny of their own lives hang in the balance. Will they uncover the truth in time, or will they succumb to the machinations of a hidden enemy? The answers lie within these pages, waiting for you to delve deeper into a realm where nothing is as it seems.

Stones, Stars and Solutions

Stones, Stars and Solutions
Author: John Chapman
Publisher: John Chapman
Total Pages: 465
Release: 2011-07-24
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1476113572

Who are the Sky People and what is the Sky’s Eye? What do they have to do with the ancient document held by the Triplet family since 1099? What is the purpose of the mysterious stone, kept with the document? Why was the document written in thirteen different languages? Does the number thirteen provide a clue? When translated, what is the ultimate power the document speaks of? Sir Richard and his ‘family’ begin a quest for the answers. Unfortunately, he and his group aren't the only ones looking for this ultimate power. His opponents already have a two-day head start. Their journeys will lead them to the cradles of civilisation, but where does their journey start? What will they discover at the end? Why are James and Donna so important to this quest? What about the situation between Richard and Donna? Is he still lying to her? Did he send the threatening letter? Everyone, including Joyce believes Richard would be the logical choice. Richard swears he didn't send it, but if he didn't then who did? Who sought Joyce's help through a mysterious phone call to the Complex? Would Joyce regret the choice she made? Where does Kate fit in? Does she hide a secret of her own? Is Tom an ordinary little boy, or is he special like James and Donna? Why does he know so much about the Dine’é Yá? Who told him? Who is Candice Stuart and what important part will she play in James’s future?

The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Healing with Crystals and Stones

The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Healing with Crystals and Stones
Author: Uma Silbey
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 380
Release: 2023-11-21
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1510776508

This follow-up to Uma Silbey's The Ultimate Guide to Crystals and Stones is designed to be instructional as well as inspirational, creating an opportunity through her extensive level of expertise so that you can examine and heal your emotional turmoil as well as that of others. This groundbreaking book provides detailed information about how to use crystal and stone energy to transform painful feelings and emotional turmoil into inner harmony and peace. These step-by-step crystal instructions show the reader exactly how to vanquish and transform both the most painful feelings as well as the underlying deep core wounding that supports their continual reoccurrence. Beautiful pictures and descriptions of the most important emotional healing stones supplement each set of instructions and accompanying meditations. This book is for all of those who want to have a happier life as well as those who want to successfully help others. Within the opening pages of The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Healing with Crystals and Stones, Silbey provides you with an understanding of how emotional pain works, forming the basis that supports later instructions for crystal and stone usage. Then you'll be introduced to actual healing techniques as well as specific emotional healing crystals and stones. Emotional upsets explored throughout the book include: anger, blame, grief, jealousy, sadness, boredom, apathy, withdrawal, anxiety, impatience, shyness, disgust/contempt, fear, eating disorders, obsession/control/compulsion, unhappiness, confusion, and suicide. Emotional core wounds discussed include: shame, inadequacy, fear of anger, abuse, domination, distrust, rejection, abandonment, feeling guilty, inability to accept self/others, feeling unlovable, and depression. While being inspired, you'll discover a deeper level of wisdom that will guide you further in your emotional healing work with stones and crystals through Silbey's informative and eye-opening text.

Trial of Flowers

Trial of Flowers
Author: Jay Lake
Publisher: Gateway
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2018-12-06
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1473225574

The City Imperishable's secret master and heir to the long-vacant throne has vanished from a locked room, as politics have turned deadly in a bid to revive the city's long-vanished empire. The city's dwarfs, stunted from spending their childhoods in confining boxes, are restive. Bijaz the Dwarf, leader of the Sewn faction among the dwarfs, fights their persecution. Jason the Factor, friend and apprentice to the missing master, works to maintain stability in the absence of a guiding hand. Imago of Lockwood struggles to revive the office of Lord Mayor in a bid to turn the City Imperishable away from the path of destruction. These three must contend with one another as they race to resolve the threats to the city.

Stone Rider

Stone Rider
Author: David Hofmeyr
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2015-07-14
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 0385391331

"Intense, original, compelling . . . bristles with attitude. So cool. Just read it."--Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author In the vein of the cult classic Mad Max series, crossed with Cormac McCarthy's The Road and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, this inventive debut novel blends adrenaline-fueled action with an improbable yet tender romance to offer a rich and vivid portrayal of misfits and loners forced together in their struggle for a better life. Adam Stone wants freedom and peace. He wants a chance to escape Blackwater, the dust-bowl desert town he grew up in. Most of all, he wants the beautiful Sadie Blood. Alongside Sadie and the dangerous outsider Kane, Adam will ride the Blackwater Trail in a brutal race that will test them all, body and soul. Only the strongest will survive. The prize? A one-way ticket to Sky-Base and unimaginable luxury. And for a chance at this new life, Adam will risk everything. More Praise for Stone Rider “Hofmeyr constructs a bleak futuristic world and a landscape both sublime and unforgiving...[in his] novel about self-preservation and reclaiming one’s humanity amid brutality."-Publishers Weekly "A dangerous race is run with everything on the line in this gritty dystopian thrill ride."--Kirkus Reviews "Gritty nonstop action."-School Library Journal "A truly gripping dystopian novel."-VOYA

Stone Blood Legacy

Stone Blood Legacy
Author: Jayne Faith
Publisher: Jayne Faith
Total Pages: 303
Release: 2018-12-08
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 099964582X

The Stone Order is under attack. Wrathful gods are closing in. Unlikely allies Petra and Jasper may be Faerie’s only hope. After her victory in the battle of champions, Petra thought she was a step closer to freedom from her sovereign and the politics of Faerie. But when she and Jasper, son of the enemy king, are sent on a mission together, she learns the shocking truth of her own bloodline and gets drawn even deeper into Fae struggles. To complicate matters, Petra can no longer deny her feelings for Jasper. But there’s little time for exploring the new romance. Petra and Jasper discover the rumors are true--the Fae gods who left Faerie in the hands of High King Oberon generations ago are preparing to return, and they’re planning to raze their former realm. But the High King is nowhere to be found. In the chaos of Oberon's absence, Petra’s people are left vulnerable to foreign invaders who would seize the stone fortress. The time for diplomacy is past. Petra must find a way to protect herself, her vulnerable changeling twin sister, and her people before the angry gods close in. Find out what fate awaits Petra, Jasper, and Faerie in STONE BLOOD LEGACY, the continuation of the new urban fantasy series for fans of Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, and Jim Butcher. Download the eBook today and continue the adventure!