Oscar's Story

Mr. Pariyal shared Oscar’s Pedigree file with a reverence akin to the way we share janampatris (horoscopes). Oscar’s pedigree status was pretty impressive and his grandfather seemed to be the outstanding one for winning dog shows on intelligence, obedience besides his alpha male looks.

Oscar’s father had a rather strange name – “Casper” – and had not followed in his illustrious father’s footsteps. Casper had either not participated in dog shows or failed to make a mark in them. Oscar’s parents and grandparents were based in Bangalore.

The little Labrador had travelled afar to make Mumbai his home.

We consoled ourselves that sometimes genes skip a generation and Oscar would be like his illustrious grandfather. We were not disappointed; he had intelligence in ample measure and the only thing he needed was obedience.

The Book of Bu – Tails of a Zen Dog

In a profound, funny and beautifully rendered portrait of a furry soul mate, first-time writer Rebecca Spyker recalls the adventures of her rescue dog, Bu, who not only changed her life but became the rescuer, leading her back to the Buddhist wisdom she forgets from time to time.

Bu’s life is captured in a series of all true tails (tales), where he illustrates the absurdities and wonders of human life as this remarkably determined creature bounces from misadventures, strange encounters, life-threatening illnesses and peculiar antics to share his endearing habits.

Rebecca in turn offers the reader some reflections on Zen wisdom, thoughtful insights and very human lessons on life, death and all the delightfully messy bits in between. In getting to know Bu’s poignant, joyful and love-filled journey, it’s guaranteed that you will be begging for a box of tissues one minute and laughing out loud the next.

Written with warmth, grace and good humour, The Book of Bu – Tails of a Zen Dog provides a gentle nudge to learn something about yourself and that laughing and crying are very close companions.

Understanding Tarot

At the heart of Pam Richards’ new book, Understanding Tarot, is a detailed guide to the imagery and symbolism of each of the 78 cards in the tarot deck. This book uses as its reference point the classic tarot deck known as ‘Rider-Waite-Smith’, which was designed by Arthur Edward Waite and then drawn and brought to life by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909. Readers who wish to learn more about the images of this extraordinary deck will find this book very helpful.

Understanding Tarot is intended to be a companion for all tarot students, with whatever deck they love, whether they are completely new to the subject or an experienced enthusiast looking to broaden their view of this wonderful deck of cards. Both the upright and reversed meanings of each card are given, and for those new to tarot, in these sections you will find keywords for each displayed in bold-italic text, and an ‘In a Nutshell’ section, which both give a quick glance at the cards without delving into the deeper elements of the book.

Whether you wish to understand each card in detail or use them for psychic development, this book has you covered.

William Shakespeare's Coloring Book Part 2

The lark that sang at the gates of heaven;

The eagle that vanished into a sunset;

The cock that was the trumpet to the morn;

The croaking raven that bellowed for revenge;

The nightingale that sang in a pomegranate tree;

The peacock that had its plumes pulled.

All these wild birds are mentioned in the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare. In his works you can also find finches, swallows, a cuckoo, a hawk, a falcon, a sparrow and a crow that nested in a rookie wood along with a variety of flowers and plants.

Besides numerous cats and King Richard III’s horse, there is a leopard, a lion and many dogs.

A Rural Legacy Lost. Net Salmon Fishing On The River Dart in Devon: An Occupation, Way of Life and Associated Dialect in Terminal Decline?

In A Rural Legacy Lost. Net Salmon Fishing on the River Dart in Devon: An Occupation, Way of Life and Associated Dialect in Terminal Decline? we learn of the tradition of harvesting salmon as a means of business and pastime. Beginning with a biologically appropriate explanation of salmon as a species, a rare and hardy survivor of a fish that focuses its travels and migrations for the sole purpose of reproduction, Nick Baker commences an introduction of how people have worked to follow salmon, track its life cycle, and measure the strength of its population over time.

Referencing multiple governmental agencies and professional organizations, Baker shows the challenges the salmon population faces in regard to problems posed by global warming and climate change; illustrates and organizes historical dialect and jargon; and presents how the decline of salmon fishing and loss of farming has impacted the housing and economic structure of Stoke Gabriel in Devon. This expose of salmon fishing and the changing Devon community is concluded with a list of potential issues the people face and some solutions which may help.

Killer Sudoku and Other Puzzles - How Do They Do That?

A book of many puzzles mostly in the Sudoku family, many of which are Killer Sudoku. There are many hints as to how these puzzles are made. Also included Kakuro, Futoshiki, Hittori, Slitherlink and others. Try your hand at the original puzzles, as invented in the eighteenth century by the great Swiss mathematician, Leonhard Euler.

Myths, History, and Art

Sir Basil Markesinis has held tenured senior posts at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, University of London, Leiden (in the Netherlands) and the Law School of the University of Texas at Austin where he is now Emeritus Professor of Comparative Methodology. He has also held for a number of years part-time Chairs at the Universities of Paris I (Sorbonne), Paris II (Assas), Munich (Germany), Ghent (Belgium), Siena, Genova, and Rome (Italy), the Michigan Law School (at Ann-Arbour) for two years and the Cornell Law School for four years. He has authored or co-authored 56 books, over 150 legal articles, and close to 100 articles on geopolitical issues in journals and newspapers in three continents. His most-recent work is his three-volume illustrated treatise entitled Ancient Greek Poetry from Homer to Roman Times, Jan Sramek, Verlag (2017). His academic work has earned him Fellowships at the Academies of Athens, Belgium, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Rome (Lincei), as well as the Athens Archaeological Society and the American Law Institute. For his work in promoting international relations and the study of various European Cultures, especially through his creation of the Leiden Institute of Anglo-American Law (in 1987); The Oxford Institute of European and Comparative Law (in 1996) of which he was Founder, fund raiser, and first Director; and the Texas Institute of Global Law (in 2000), he was awarded the Insignia of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy; the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of France; the Insignia of the Grand Cross of Service with Star of the Republic of Germany, as well as the insignia of Commander of the Order of the Légion d' honneur of France. In 1997 on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, he was appointed Hon. Queen's Counsel; and in 2005, on the advice of the Prime Minister, he was knighted by H. M. Queen Elizabeth II for "exceptional services to international relations."

Seeing Is Believing

Can a witch’s curse from 1630 force her accuser to haunt the Heath Common?

Can dreams predicting the future come true? Who or what saved a woman trapped in a wrecked vehicle? Is there an angel in the Holy Trinity Church Knaresborough? Do UFOs exist or are they figments of our imagination? Did the children really see the reptilian man in their bedroom? If so, was it linked to their father’s involvement with UFOs and the Ouija board. Is a battle still raging on the Portobella Estate in Wakefield, and who are the ghostly children?

There are many more factual accounts to be discovered in Seeing Is Believing; stories that will make the most sceptical of readers wonder at the mystery that surrounds us.

Elisa believes that all hauntings, poltergeist, ghosts, angels, UFOs etc, are all natural phenomena that have been with us throughout time.

A Farmhouse and a Famous Kangaroo

An interior designer’s beautiful family account of a semi-rural lifestyle on the outskirts of the city of Sydney, Australia.

A pictorial tale of the lifestyle and interiors of a family farmhouse, and their community, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Included are poignant historical snippets of the area including a community profile on Australian of the Year, Shane Fitzsimmons, and insider information about the place that Skippy the Bush Kangaroo once called home. An inspiring way to live and love.

Your Children's Party and How to Plan it, Run it, Enjoy it

Remember all you mums, dads and carers: I’m sure you know a lot of these tips, games and ideas, so use this book to help you plan and run your party, and make it a great success!

Movers and Shakers, The Monster Makers

Ed Symonds is a film editor many years past his prime. Regarding the “magic” of movie-making with increasing cynicism, he observes the characters around him with detachment, indulging in thoughts best kept to himself.

Tariq Anwar is a film editor with a similarly jaundiced view of the industry, and he uncannily shares a lifetime of experiences somewhat similar to Ed’s.

Unlike Ed, he doesn’t keep his thoughts to himself.

In a career spanning 50 years, Tariq has worked with the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly, and they all, with some degree of artistic licence, find themselves in this book. With contributions to many award winning TV productions and films including The Madness of King George, American Beauty and The King’s Speech, Tariq draws on his experiences to take an irreverent look into the feudal nature of an industry where deference abounds and into the increasingly precarious and misunderstood role of the editor.

How to Become a Wine Connoisseur in 60 Minutes or Less

In Alain Merheje’s book, How to Become a Wine Connoisseur in 60 Minutes or Less you will find information on many entry topics into the art of wine, including: red versus white, the stages of production, oak storage, wine-growing regions, the types of wine, how to recognize the grape variety from the wine colour, the terroir concept (grape variety, production method, micro climate and topography), varietal vs blends and much more, all simply and engagingly explained. Alain Merheje’s aim was to write a book that in an hour of reading would provide the basics of wine right down to the many little-known tips; such as how to tell if a wine has gone bad even before you open the bottle. So, ‘If you’re looking to learn just enough to sound like a real connoisseur, impress your friends or dazzle your guests, then look no further.’