Looking On Darkness

Tells the story of black actor Joseph Malan as he awaits execution for the murder of his white lover. The narrator and central character is Joseph Malan, a black South African actor, jailed, tortured and awaiting his execution for the murder of the white woman whose lover he was. He recalls the ancestry passed on to him, half-history, half-fantasy, a chronicle of subjugation through the generations. Then there is his own wandering through what his revolutionary friend dismisses as the white man's culture. But to Malan the many parts he has played, including an episode with the Royal Shakespeare Company, are the only identities he knows. A sophisticate, an aesthete, a Europeanized intellectual, a dabbler in the philosophy of the East, Malan is truly a character in search of an author. His refusal to leave South Africa and his involvement with the young adventuress however insures the fate he seeks and embraces. All of this has more validity as thesis than as fiction. But more damaging, how much attention can finally be paid to a novel whose characters continually quote authorities who say what they mean so much better than they do?

A British psychologist with a mysterious past and strange powers. A former monk with the voice of an angel and untamable vanity. A jazz performer who derives her confidence from a secret lover. A college student obsessed with becoming someone's "Lolita." These four haunted characters take separate paths to meet in 1991 Milwaukee, and the alchemy of their union creates thrilling, bizarre, magical and deadly results. Looking on Darkness is Diana Laurence's first full-length work outside the romance genre, and draws heavily from the psychoanalytical theory of Carl Jung. It is a mainstream novel of psychological vampirism that explores the deepest caverns of the mind and the darkest corners of the heart.

Banned for many years in the author's native South Africa, Looking on Darkness tells the story of actor Joseph Malan as he awaits execution for the murder of his white lover. André Brink panders to no one's political, ideological or religious beliefs in a controversial novel which has achieved international significance and abundant critical acclaim. From three time winner of South Africa's most prestigious literary prize, the CNA Award.

Our identity can be a confusing and mysterious area to explore, and even though the world expects us to figure out who we are and get our lives together, the truth is, that we can't always pick a category for ourselves, and why should we? It can be difficult to find the right words to explain your existence, so Simar Bhogal, decides to look where no one else is, in the dark. 'looking in the dark.' is a blackout poetry book that explores identity in a personal, cultural and global context through an amalgamation of writing and art.

A collection of nine critical essays on the modern social science fiction novel, arranged in chronological order of their original publication.

Few writers have captured the flavor of the American Southwest better than Aimee and David Thurlo, in both mysteries and romantic suspense. Josephine Buck runs a trading post just off the Navajo Reservation. Widow Leigh Ann Vance is Jo's right-hand-woman, filling the emptiness in her own life. Shortly after her husband, Kurt, was killed, Leigh Ann discovered he had been having a string of affairs. Leigh Ann's trust issues affect her feelings for blind sculptor Melvin Littlewater. Kurt's business partners accuse Leigh Ann of helping Kurt embezzle and the police wonder if Leigh Ann killed him. When she turns to Melvin for help, she finds him fighting his own demons, haunted by memories of a young girl he saw moments before the car crash that cost him his sight. Together, Leigh Ann and Melvin delve into the darkest moments of their pasts, searching for truth and light. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

These nineteen intriguing fantasy and horror tales challenge the very heart and soul of the reader. From unhappy husbands and beleaguered wives, to those individuals living completely on their own, these hard-edged and gritty psychological gems present life--and death--on the edge. Whatever the outcome, there's always a price to be paid... Among the stories included are: "Three, Four, Shut the Door," "Bruja," "The Grotto," "Hair," "The Home," "Snow," and "Each Night, Each Year." First-rate supernatural fiction by a masterful storyteller.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly captivating.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was completely hooked.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of the best books I have read.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fantastic… My heart was in my mouth.’ Shaz’s Book Blog Paris, 1941: Going against her mother’s orders, spirited Maggie devotes herself to the Resistance. Her life is a whirlwind of forged passports and secret midnight runs, helping Jews escape Paris, which grows more dangerous by the day. Under the cloak of darkness, she bids farewell to Emil, who flees the city with the Nazis hot on his heels. Emil is bound for Maggie’s sister, Cecilia, hundreds of miles away in the South of France. Innocent and shy Cecilia is shocked to the core when Emil turns up, seeking refuge. Up until now, she has lived a sheltered existence: wild and dangerous Emil turns her world upside down. Her life is on the line as she risks everything to protect him and soon she is drawn into the secret work of the underground Resistance. As each day passes and the war rages on, Cecilia cannot help being drawn to Emil… But as the Nazis close in on them, she faces a terrible choice. Exactly how far she is willing to go for love? Her decision will haunt her for the rest of her life… An evocative, riveting and stirring tale about the tragic realities of war, the fine line between loyalty and lies, and the power of love, even in the darkest of times. Fans of The Nightingale, The Letter and All The Light We Cannot See will be spellbound by this magnificent historical novel. Readers absolutely love In Darkness, Look for Stars: ‘Amazing… One of my favourite stories… A brilliant story that is full of twists and turns… I felt like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time while reading… A must-read.’ Chells and Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh my word, this was definitely an emotive and additive read, and then some… I felt myself well up… I fully immersed myself in the story and I knew that nothing much would be done for the rest of the day as I would be too busy reading!... I was too hooked… Superbly written… I became so emotionally involved with certain characters that every time they felt pain, I felt pain… The author uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I actually felt as though I was part of the story myself.’ Ginger Book Geek, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Amazing… I truly loved this book… Clara Benson does a masterful job of bringing her characters to life… Fans of All the Light We Cannot See will thoroughly enjoy this book.’ Historically Yours, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Stirring, captivating and electrifying… So poignant it could sever readers’ heartstrings… A wonderfully written historical novel, In Darkness, Look for Stars was the first Clara Benson novel I read, but it shall certainly not be my last.’ Bookish Jottings, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautifully devastating book. Highly emotional and utterly captivating from the first page to the last.’ Loopyloulaura, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fantastic… The author captures the relationships beautifully over the split time spans and intertwines them seamlessly. A real page-turner filled with suspenseful twists and turns.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book was so good! The characters were so well rounded, you felt like you actually knew them! The plot was so good you didn't want the book to end!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Beautifully written.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘First of all, what a lovely title and so apt during these dark times!... Heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. An insightful look into what war can bring but what we can get out of life when everything is crumbling around us. There’s plenty of war stories out there, but this one stands out.’ The Book Trail, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I have read lots of books in the war fiction genre and found this book to be one of the best I have read!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐