Choices. Life offers us plenty. How do you know you chose correctly? From the streets of West Berlin to the lush tropical climes of Bali, from New Delhi to New York - these stories follow characters faced with choices that could send their lives in different and sometimes opposite directions. A daughter who wants more from life, a father who contemplates ending his; a love lost, a love retained, a love forgotten. Regret, retribution and remorse are liberally sprinkled through this diverse and eclectic collection of short stories. In surprising, vivid and thought-provoking journeys across continents, cultures and landscapes, an indubitable truth emerges - human emotions are essentially the same world over. Savour this collection of tales that range from smooth to dark, nutty to silly, and bitter to sweet. Which story would you like to bite into today? ***** Reader reviews: "Truly like a box of chocolates, something for everyone, lovely short stories. There’s dark, light, salty, and sweet, my favorites being the darker stories! I always enjoy the author’s beautifully descriptive prose, takes me away to far flung locales, exactly what we all need these days!" "As per her usual style each story draws you in from the very first sentence. Each story has a completely different narrator and is written in beautifully rich prose. In this book the stories are set in different countries and even ages. But Poornima took care to enter a little commonality into each story, thus connecting the individual stories. Clearly the theme for this book was ‘a story with a twist’. A joy to read!" ​"This was a very enjoyable book with varied themes, different voices and locations - all from one very talented author. I will be adding more of her books to my reading list and would encourage anyone who is not familiar with her to give her a try."

Journey the globe, one story at a time… In a world where choices shape our destinies, "Twelve" invites you to embark on an exciting journey that spans the globe. From the bustling streets of West Berlin to the lush landscapes of Bali; from the vibrant alleys of New Delhi to the iconic avenues of New York, immerse yourself in a diverse tapestry of narratives that traverse the continents. Lose yourself in the lives of characters standing at crossroads, where pivotal decisions may lead them on vastly different paths. Meanwhile, "Eight" beckons you to a whimsical odyssey across the world, infusing the ordinary with the extraordinary. Here, goddesses walk amongst mortals, mythical creatures materialise unexpectedly, and reality seamlessly melds with the supernatural. Witness the bizarre events that disrupt ordinary lives, opening a portal to a fantastical realm sprinkled with magic and mayhem. And what about love? "Six" paints a vibrant portrait of love's kaleidoscope. It captures the unlikeliest of connections forged among society's outcasts, the glimmer of hope ignited by a serendipitous encounter, the dizzying heights of passion, the profound depths of longing, and the crippling anguish of betrayal. This collection traverses the emotional spectrum, reminding us that love, both fragile and enduring, shapes our lives in countless ways. Finally, a BONUS short story about the twilight years—an exploration of unexpected love and rekindled hope. This tale serves as a poignant reminder to embrace life's late yet beautiful surprises. Step into a world where flavours and fantasies collide, weaving a captivating tapestry of experiences. Indulge in a delectable buffet of stories, where each page offers a mouthwatering morsel of pure storytelling delight. "Twelve," "Eight," "Six," and the BONUS story add up to Twenty-Seven tales that take you on a creative and imaginative spin around the world. Come, enjoy a literary feast that will leave your senses craving for more.

Jim writes about his childhood during World War II, his time in the British Navy, his work on oil refineries and pipelines around the world, and facing the results of political upheaval in Africa and the Middle East. Judy concentrates on her memories of building and maintaining a home in diverse places, such as the American Virgin Islands, Brazil, Iran, Clinton, Iowa, Saudi Arabia, and Newburgh, Scotland. Together, they dealt with everything, from an attack of sea urchins in Aruba to being caught in one of the worlds most unexpected revolutions in Iran.

With entries on topics ranging from non-Western instruments to distinctive rhythms of music from various countries, this one-stop resource on global music also promotes appreciation of other countries and cultural groups. A perfect resource for students and music enthusiasts alike, this expansive three-volume set provides readers with multidisciplinary perspectives on the music of countries and ethnic groups from around the globe. Students will find Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia accessible and useful in their research, not only for music history and music appreciation classes but also for geography, social studies, language studies, and anthropology. Additionally, general readers will find the books appealing and an invaluable general reference on world music. The volumes cover all world regions, including the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia and the Pacific, promoting a geographic understanding and appreciation of global music. Entries are arranged alphabetically. A preface explains the scope of the set as well as how to use the encyclopedia, followed by a brief history of traditional music and important current influences of music in each particular world region.

Ten Thousand Days is the tale of Aark, father, husband, post-feminist man of the twenty first century who embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the Empty Quarter of the Arabian Desert. Life’s great challenges have brought a craftsman into the midst of an ancient Bedouin community. Unbeknown to himself he is travelling into the truth of an ancient prophesy. He is a holy man lost in Gods great cauldron of nature. He has a lesson to learn and one to teach. Aark is dying, yet his life has meaning beyond many and his mission more vital than most. He is an inventor of necessity, in a landscape of great need. In a place where life and death cling by a filament, Aark becomes not only a survivor but a saviour to those in his orbit. As we journey with him through the last sands of his time in life, we learn of his trials, the past that haunts him, his failed marriage, his greatest hopes. We are renewed with Aark as his spirit repairs through invention and discovery. Aark is as close as modern man gets to the incarnation of a saint. He has overcome the complexities of modern living, and yet managed to maintain his spirit intact. Come, travel with Aark, a lost soul, who life has catapulted into the sparse dangerous world of the desert. Join in the magic realism of a secret allegorical world of twenty first century man. Quench spiritual thirst and satisfy emotional hunger as together you learn how survival is not the only lesson taught by the desert inhabitants. Weave your way through this beguiling tale and trust the path of a man whose spirit, although bruised by the inadequacies of life in the real world, remains unbroken. Feel his anguish as you share the thrilling roller coaster spirals of Aark’s descent into an abyss of paranoia and memory loss, only to be rescued by his own fortitude and strength of character. Wonder in awe as you rediscover the ancient art of water harvesting in God’s fiery cauldron. Gain a deeper understanding of the hardships endured by its inhabitants simply to ensure the basics of life are sustained. Journey with Aark through this mysterious stunning landscape. You may, like Aark, find within a deep fresh rejuvenating source of spiritual nourishment and healing. Wander together as he weaves onward to an inevitable release from his inner turmoil, and travel home, with a greater understanding of self and the fragility of life. Embark on this journey through the traumatic realities faced by us all, as we endure the complexities of modern life. Discover sensitively and unobtrusively how through determination and inner resolve we can overcome the challenges of contemporary living. Learn from Aark how to nurture and sustain relationships in greater equilibrium. Enjoy this story of the triumph of hope over despair. Let its simplicity transform or delve deeper, if so desired. Only the brave need journey on….

Around the World in 80 Ways offers a (sometimes opinionated) discussion of 80 data-driven maps of our planet. Taken together, the maps tell a story about the physical world; about the impact our species is having on the world; and about how people live in the world – or at least how we lived immediately before the emergence of Covid-19. The maps lie. All maps lie. But the origins of the deceptions are explained, the data sources are signposted and referenced, and the readers are shown how to create their own maps using freely available software. The reader is thus armed with the tools needed to explore local, national or world data – on topics ranging from science to society; environment to entertainment; wealth to wellbeing – a valuable skill in an age when certain politicians are happy to refer to “alternative facts” and media outlets deliver data visualizations that sometimes mislead as much as inform.

Sorry, Dorothy--sometimes your heart's desire isn't in your own backyard. Head of PR and spokesperson for Lonely Planet travel guides, Jennifer Cox has explored the most remote regions, toured the most exotic terrains, and bonded with people the world over. So how come finding her soul mate in her own hometown of London is a virtual dead end? Certain that the man of her dreams is out there somewhere, Jennifer sets out on the trip of a lifetime, dating her way around the globe--across 18 countries, in 6 months--to find The One. Around the World in 80 Dates is her fresh, funny, emotionally honest and revealing memoir of her global dating adventures. From the Skate Date in Paris to the High Roller in Vegas, from the Love Professor in Sweden and the Dead Date in Italy to Australia's Penguin Ranger, here is the inside scoop on a bevy of potential partners--a sharply witty and warm hearted true story that will have you breathlessly crisscrossing the international dateline along with Jennifer, to discover where in the world is her Mr. Right. Take off with Jennifer Cox as she goes Around the World in 80 Dates

Exploring Popular World Music is the first introductory level text written to introduce students to popular music styles from around the world. Focusing on styles that all students will know -- from Reggae to Klezmer, from Afro-Pop to Kodo drums--the book offers a comprehensive, listening-oriented introduction to the world's popular musical cultures. Each chapter will focus on a specific music style and its associated geographic locale. The salient musical and cultural features associated with each example are discussed in detail to increase our appreciation of the music. Relevant artists will be highlighted and suggestions for further reading and listening will be offered. By the end of the book, the student should be able to 1) recognize a variety of world music styles, 2) articulate musical and cultural knowledge associated with each style, and 3) identify important artists related to the genre. Supplementing the text will be a web site fcreated by the author) featuring the author's world music map, enabling students to explore pop music cultures as they relate to each other; as well as an iTunes playlist for all the highlighted selections in the book. This book should strongly appeal to Intro to World Music Courses for non-majors who wish to study popular rather than traditional musics of the world, which would encompass a large majority of students enrolled in these courses.