I am a thief. While travelling through a rather longish journey of life, I was fortunate enough to come across a variety of characters. There were moments with them that were worth stealing. I have stolen them and preserved carefully in a sacred corner of my heart. Now the time has come when it looks selfish that I have failed to share my treasure with the masses in general and the connoisseurs in particular. While going through the book, you are sure to come across the characters that you encounter in day-to-day life. All of them have a story. Some of these strike a chord in you. These are the things you preserve and that is reflected in you as well. Feelings are precious and make a permanent impression which you carry forward. This is the essence of literature. While I said this, there is no claim from my side that the works are of great literary value. It is my humble endeavour to share my stolen treasure with you so that I am no more tagged as selfish. There are eleven short stories in this collection. The characters belong to different walks of life, and are mostly commoners; like you and me. But do the commoners not have uncommon stories? My success depends on whether you enjoy the stories. It is after all, the enjoyment that matters.

In a thoroughly modernized, constantly updating society, where can true connection be found? The bodies of citizens and the infrastructure surrounding them is constantly updating. People can’t recognize themselves in old pictures, and they wake up in apartments of completely different sizes and shapes. Commuter routes radically differ day to day. The citizens struggle with adaptability as updates happen too quickly, and the changes are far too radical to be intuitive. There is no way to resist—the updates are enacted by a nameless, faceless force. The narrator of Familiar Face works in the government’s department of complaints, reading through citizens’ reports of the issues they’ve had with the system updates. The job isn’t to fix anything but rather to be the sole human sounding board, a comfort in a system so decidedly impersonal. These complaints aren’t mere bug reports—they can be anything: existential, petty, just plain heartbreaking. Michael DeForge’s ability to find the humanity and emotional truth within the outlandish bureaucracy of everyday life is unparalleled. The signatures of his work—a vibrant color palette, surreal designs, and a self-aware sense of humor—enliven an often bleak technocratic future. Familiar Face is a masterful and deeply funny exploration of how we define our sense of self, and how we cope when so much of life is out of our control.

Ever feel disappointed? Like your life isn't as fulfilling as you had always dreamed it would be? Are you laden down with responsibilities, feeling overwhelmed and empty, or maybe even a bit caged? You're not alone. Many people in the Bible felt the same way. Most had difficulties. Some felt stuck. Others were depressed. Afraid. Uncertain. And some just wanted to get closer to God. So they set out on life's grand adventure-seeking God-and encountered the One who fulfilled their longings and changed their lives forever. The same can happen for you. Seeking a Familiar Face guides you on the transforming journey of connecting with God, through simple, yet extraordinary ways. It doesn't matter if you are already seeking Him or just getting started, this book will encourage you to go a little farther toward locking hearts with God. in this book you will discover: - Engaging narratives from 10 biblical characters - Stories, humor, and practical ideas for seeking God - Thought provoking questions to discuss with a friend or group - Fresh hope for deepened intimacy with God

The first American public official to announce his homosexuality draws on his own experiences and those of acquaintances and colleagues to reveal the truth about the lives of homosexual men in modern society

No other book exists on supply teaching in English schools. This book is thus an agenda-setting volume which uses diverse contributions to provoke discussion of rarely articulated issues which are central to the day-to-day teaching and learning experiences of both teaching staff and pupils. Part 1 considers the individual motives and experience; Part 2 the working context and school concerns; and Part 3 analyses the role of the local education authority and supply teaching as a labour market phenomenon. Against a backcloth of rapid change, this edited volume reveals much about these professionals who work daily in schools, yet have had little attention paid in previous accounts of schooling. As women predominate in the supply teaching force, the volume spotlights women teachers' experience, but recognises the complex gender issues, and takes into account the experiences of men working as supply teachers.

This resource makes it easy for teachers and librarians working with middle-school children to infuse their curriculum with multicultural literature. Carefully vetted and annotated, it encompasses fiction and non-fiction published in the last decade, making it an ideal reference and collection development tool for schools and public libraries alike

Michael Bofshever shows how you can be a successful working actor without either having to become a Star or live the life of a struggling artist.

From the author of the international best seller House of Leaves and National Book Award–nominated Only Revolutions comes a monumental new novel as dazzling as it is riveting. The Familiar (Volume 1) ranges from Mexico to Southeast Asia, from Venice, Italy, to Venice, California, with nine lives hanging in the balance, each called upon to make a terrifying choice. They include a therapist-in-training grappling with daughters as demanding as her patients; an ambitious East L.A. gang member contracted for violence; two scientists in Marfa, Texas, on the run from an organization powerful beyond imagining; plus a recovering addict in Singapore summoned at midnight by a desperate billionaire; and a programmer near Silicon Beach whose game engine might unleash consequences far exceeding the entertainment he intends. At the very heart, though, is a twelve-year-old girl named Xanther who one rainy day in May sets out with her father to get a dog, only to end up trying to save a creature as fragile as it is dangerous . . . which will change not only her life and the lives of those she has yet to encounter, but this world, too—or at least the world we think we know and the future we take for granted. (With full-color illustrations throughout.) Like the print edition, this eBook contains a complex image-based layout. It is most readable on e-reading devices with larger screen sizes.

First Published in 2016. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an Informa company.