The Slow Release

Death, that ending of all endings, is the shared concern of these stories, which have been chosen from among the hundreds that have appeared in the prestigious Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction series. More than seventy volumes, which include approximately eight hundred stories, have won the Flannery O'Connor Award. This stunning trove of always engaging, often groundbreaking short fiction is the common source for this anthology on death-and for planned anthologies on such topics as work, family, animals, children, and more. Most of the expected ways by which we take our leave are covered here: accident, murder, suicide, illness, old age. Perhaps less expected is how, in these stories, a matter we'd rather not think about becomes the stuff of fiction so compelling that we can't stop thinking about it. How can something so final and certain spread so much ambiguity in its wake? What did we think of the departed, and what did they think of us? How long will they be around--in our hearts and heads-even after they're gone? How will we forgive those who may have caused the death of a loved one? These fifteen stories give us many new ways of looking not only at death but at the lives that must go on in its aftermath.

In The Slow Release Miracle, Andrew Nugent provides readers with a roadmap for reversing the three stages of spiritual awakening: 1. Points of departure (an awakening to the dimensions and dynamics of Christian spiritual life). 2. Vantage points (a growth in wonder for the many gifts of the Spirit in the Church and in the world.) 3. Points of arrival (spiritual maturity, which enables us to go gently into the night, unafraid, with joy and hope). The author points out that there will always be a need to celebrate God's age-old beauty which, in the words of St. Augustine, is so old--and yet so new. The human spirit unfolding is a participation in God's beauty, God's work of art.

This stunning book showcases paintings, sculptures, drawings, and tapestries by acclaimed artist Enrico David, who has spent the last two decades exploring materials and rejecting the trends of the contemporary art scene. Enrico David has distinguished himself as one of the most original artists working today. This monograph, published on the occasion of the artist's first US survey, celebrates an artist who uses unconventional mediums such as copper, wax, bamboo, bone, Vaseline, cashmere, and cotton to fashion imagery that revolves around the human figure and its many states of being. The generously illustrated volume includes an illuminating essay about David's practice by Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago curator Michael Darling, a compelling creative piece by Nathanaël, and an interview with the artist by Mark Beasley of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Copublished by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and DelMonico Books

Written specifically for western agriculture, this straightforward handbook gives growers an excellent foundation for developing an understanding of agronomic principles and practices to produce healthy crops and meet 21st-century production demands. The text presents fertilization, nutrient management, and related topics based on the fundamentals of biological and physical sciences. It explains the interrelation of soil type, moisture, and the macro- and micronutrients to grow plants successfully. In the ninth edition, the highly credentialed editors place more emphasis on the relationships of fertilizer application and crop management to environmental quality and long-term productivity. Outstanding features: Clearly rendered diagrams and drawings enhance text descriptions; the generous use of tables and charts distill data for easy access and understanding; a 12-page, 4-color section of photos shows various plants with nutrient deficiencies; supplementary reading lists provide a readymade path for readers who want to delve into topics of their own choosing; appendices contain a model law relating to fertilizer materials, useful tables and conversions, and a listing of professional organizations