The December Boys

They are known as the "December boys" because all of them - Chocker (who tells the story, Fido, Spark, Misty and Maps - are thought to have been born in that month. And one December in the late 1930s they leave their Catholic orphanage in the dusty outback to spend the Christmas holidays at the seaside settlement of Captain s Folly, staying with the eccentric Mr and Mrs McAnsh, who are partial to pumpkin wine. Wearing bathing costumes made from four-bags dyed black, the boys meet the ocean for the first time and are soon racing through the sandhills to plunge in the surf. But it is Teresa, the young wife of Fearless Foley, former stunt rider on the Wall of Death, who becomes the focus of those holidays, setting off intense ribaldry and competition between the boys which leads to a totally unexpected ending. The December Boys is a classic tale of an unforgettable summer beside the Pacific Ocean. First published in 1963, it was commended in the Miles Franklin Award.

Prison-for-profit scheme thrusts insurance investigator into his disturbing past—and extreme danger Jay Porter, the newest employee at NorthEastern Insurance in New Hampshire, is investigating a motor vehicle accident claim when he learns the teenager behind the wheel was arrested for minor drug possession and sentenced to a hardcore behavioral modification center. At the county courthouse, Jay meets Nicki, a young college intern, who tips him off to a possible scandal—first-time juvenile offenders being shipped to private institutions for political kickbacks. He learns that long-time family nemeses, Adam and Michael Lombardi, may have a stake in the scheme. Is Jay's mission to help these kids a legitimate crusade? Or is his thirst for revenge driven by the guilt he feels over his own junkie brother's death? These questions conspire to tear apart tranquility and drive a wedge between Jay and his wife Jenny. With help from new friend Nicki, and a couple of old friends, Jay finds himself thrust back into a past he had hoped to leave behind, putting everything—and everyone he loves—at risk in pursuit of the truth. Perfect for fans of noir fiction While all of the novels in the Jay Porter Series stand on their own and can be read in any order, the publication sequence is: Lamentation December Boys Give Up the Dead Broken Ground Rag and Bone

Eine Geschichte über das Erwachsenwerden und den Wert von Freundschaft Der Roman erzählt von fünf Teenagern, die in den 30er Jahren in einem tristen, katholischen Konvent im australischen Outback aufwachsen. Erstmals in ihrem Leben können die Freunde in diesem Sommer ans Meer fahren. Doch die Idylle am Strand wird bald getrübt. Denn während der Ferien lernen die Jungen ein junges Paar kennen, das selbst keine Kinder bekommen kann. Das wären die perfekten Eltern! Und vielleicht besteht die Möglichkeit einer Adoption? Zwischen den fünf Jungen Maps, Sparks, Fido, Misty und Choker entfacht ein bitterer Wettstreit um die Gunst der potenziellen neuen Eltern. Ihre Freundschaft wird auf eine harte Probe gestel lt!

"Recounts the case of The People vs. Herman Swift, a story which ran on front pages of newspapers throughout Michigan for three years in the early 20th century. It is one of the most sensational cases to ever go to the Michigan Supreme Court and was reviewed on appeal by famous Michigan governors, Chase Osborn and Nathaniel Ferris. The story revolves around the complex, tragic figure of Herman Swift, his efforts to provide a home and guidance to orphaned and cast out boys, and a resulting scandal which gripped Michigan for years"--P. [4] of cover.

Daniel Radcliffe is the story of Daniel Jacob Radcliffe, (born July 23, 1989, Fulham, London, England), British actor best known for his on-screen portrayal of the boy wizard Harry Potter. Radcliffe began acting at age six when he appeared as a monkey in a school play. After passing up an opportunity to audition for a television production of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist, he caught the attention of television producer Kate Harwood, who was impressed by his “charm and simplicity”, and he was cast in the title role of David Copperfield (1999). Two years later Radcliffe appeared in the film The Tailor of Panama (2001). His big break came when he was cast in the film adaption of J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001). Radcliffe played Harry Potter, a lonely orphan who discovers that he is actually a wizard and enrolls in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. The film was a box-office hit...This book is the book with the longest title in the world with 28167 Characters in the title.

The Religious Art of Zen Master Hakuin is a stunning volume containing many of Hakuin's finest calligraphies and paintings. Katsuhiro Yoshizawa, the leading Japanese expert on Hakuin, masterfully reveals the profound religious meaning embedded in each artwork, providing a richly detailed documentary of the life and lessons of one of Zen's most respected teachers.