Stories of the stepmother, the substitute mother, or the “other mother” have infused popular culture for centuries and continue to do so today. She plays a substantial role in our collective imagination, whether we are a part of a step family or not. Despite the fact that the stepmother remains a prevalent figure, both in popular culture and reality, scholars have largely avoided addressing this fraught figure. I Could Not Call Her Mother explores representations of the stepmother in American popular culture from the colonial period to 1960. The archetypal stepmother appears from nineteenth-century romance novels and advice literature to 1930s pulp fiction and film noir. Leslie J. Lindenauer argues that when considered in her historic context, the stepmother serves as a bellwether for changing constructions of motherhood and family. She examines popular culture's role in shaping and reflecting an increasingly normative middle class definition of the ideal mother and family, which by the 1920s became the dominant construct. Lindenauer adds to the rich and growing literature on the history of motherhood. It echoes and is informed by the scholarship that has defined ideal motherhood as a moving target, historically constructed. In so doing, it illuminates the relationship between ideal motherhood and ideal womanhood.

This acclaimed, influential work applies the concepts of systemic family therapy to the emotional life of congregations. Edwin H. Friedman shows how the same understanding of family process that can aid clergy in their pastoral role also has important ramifications for negotiating congregational dynamics and functioning as an effective leader. Clergy from diverse denominations, as well as family therapists and counselors, have found that this book directly addresses the dilemmas and crises they encounter daily. It is widely used as a text in courses on family systems and pastoral care.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT EMOTION,REAL RAW EMOTION. GOES FROM THE ULTIMATE HIGH TO THE LOWEST OF THE LOW. BUT IT IS MOSTLY ABOUT CHOICES, THE CHOICES WE MAKE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE. I HOPE YOU WALK AWAY WITH A SINCE OF HOPE AND INSPIRATION.

A loving relationship can be defined as two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other. But what if ignorance and alienation become a dominant force within and external prejudice becomes a barrier? Cis, a beautiful, coloured twenty-eight-year-old fashion writer, and Andy, a twenty-eight-year-old Scottish businessman, have been together since university days and married for two years. Both are inexperienced lovers, too busy to care, and are sleepwalking their way to divorce over the desire for a child. Whilst escaping a storm, Cis has a chance meeting with a much older and significantly more experienced professional man, Paul. Whilst sheltering her from the storm, Paul realises her dilemma and starts to educate her in the skills and delights that she so needs for a successful marriage. She wants more, including giving her his child, much against his better judgment as he has a painful history regarding wives and children. Then she wants Paul as well in spite of the clear prejudice that such a relationship would foster for both of them in society. And she will go to any length to keep him. This is a story of prejudice, generational value differences, and want over need, regardless of the consequences, in a culture of ‘I want it all, and I want it now’.

Leo Tolstoy's 'The Complete Works' is a monumental collection encompassing his diverse literary output. With works ranging from epic novels such as 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina' to thought-provoking essays on art, religion, and politics, Tolstoy's writing showcases his deep understanding of human nature and societal issues. His distinct literary style combines vivid storytelling with philosophical introspection, making his works timeless classics in the literary canon. Tolstoy's exploration of moral dilemmas and ethical questions resonates with readers of all ages, as he challenges conventional norms and delves into the complexities of the human experience. Leo Tolstoy, a prolific Russian writer and thinker, drew inspiration from his own life experiences and philosophical beliefs to create works that continue to captivate audiences worldwide. His commitment to social change and spiritual enlightenment is evident throughout his writings, as he grapples with the fundamental questions of existence and morality. Tolstoy's dedication to truth and authenticity infuses his works with a sense of urgency and relevance that transcends time and place. I highly recommend 'The Complete Works of Leo Tolstoy' to readers seeking a deeper understanding of human nature, morality, and the complexities of society. Tolstoy's profound insights and timeless storytelling make this collection a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the depths of the human soul and the complexities of the world we inhabit.

Silent Memories — Traumatic Lives is a quest for understanding, an attempt to make sense of the very emotional history of the Ukrainian post-war migrants to Western Australia. Ukrainian migrants arrived in Australia by ship between 1947 and 1951, from the Displaced Persons camps of Europe, survivors of the worst of the Soviet regime’s atrocities, including genocidal famine, and only recently released from forced unpaid labour under the German Nazi regime. The testimonies of Ukrainian famine survivors included in this book reflect the findings of similar studies carried out in Ukrainian communities throughout the world. This work adds to mounting evidence of the genocidal nature of the Ukrainian famine of 1932–1933 and the lasting effects it has had on survivors.

“A true classic of world literature . . . A masterpiece that has inspired generations of writers in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world.” —Barack Obama “African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe.” —Toni Morrison Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.