'Courageous teachers wanted to rebuilt war-torn nation.'With her marriage over and life gone flat, Theresa Turner responds to an online ad, and lands at a school in Kurdish Iraq. Befriended by a widow in a nearby village, Theresa is embroiled in the joys and agonies of traditional Kurds, especially the women who survived Saddam's genocide only to be crippled by age-old restrictions, brutality and honor killings. Theresa's greatest challenge will be balancing respect for cultural values while trying to introduce more enlightened attitudes toward women ? at the same time seeking new spiritual dimensions within herself.'The Kurdish Bike is gripping, tender, wry and compassionate ? an eye-opener into little-known customs in one of the world's most explosive regions ? a novel of love, betrayal and redemption.

The unforgettable, haunting story of a young woman’s perilous fight for freedom and justice for her brother, the first novel published in English by a female Kurdish writer Set primarily in Iran, this extraordinary debut novel weaves 50 years of modern Kurdish history through a story of a family facing oppression and injustices all too familiar to the Kurds. Leila dreams of making films to bring the suppressed stories of her people onto the global stage, but obstacles keep piling up. Her younger brother, Chia, influenced by their father’s past torture, imprisonment, and his deep-seated desire for justice, begins to engage with social and political affairs. But his activism grows increasingly risky and one day he disappears in Tehran. Seeking answers about her brother’s whereabouts, Leila fears the worst and begins a campaign to save him. But when she publishes Chia’s writings online, she finds herself in grave danger as well. Inspired by the life of Kurdish human rights activist Farzad Kamangar and published to coincide with the 10th anniversary of his execution, Daughters of Smoke and Fire is an evocative portrait of the lives and stakes faced by 40 million stateless Kurds. It’s an unflinching but compassionate and powerful story that brilliantly illuminates the meaning of identity and the complex bonds of family. A landmark novel for our troubled world, Daughters of Smoke and Fire is a gripping and important read, perfect for fans of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun.

"From all four parts of Kurdistan and across the diaspora, Kurdish women from different geographical, political, and educational backgrounds pick up a pen, reflect, and remember. Going beyond exoticising stereotypes and patriarchal representations, Kurdish Women's Stories gives 25 women authorial freedom to write about their own lived experiences. With contributors ranging from 20 to 70 years of age, we hear stories of imprisonment, exile, disappearances of loved ones, gender-based violence, uprisings, feminist activism, and armed resistance, including first-hand accounts of political moments from the 1960s to today. Conceived as part of Culture Project's self- writing program, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to better understand the struggle of Kurdish women through their own words. Contributors: Diba Alikhani, Kobra Banehi, Khanda Hameed, Nazanin Hasan, Nafia Aysi Hasso, Deejila Haydar, Zhala Hussein, Ruken Isik, Seveen Jimo, Lanja Khawe, Nahiya Khoshkalam, Hero Kurda, Khanda Rashid Murad, Rozhgar Mustafa, Dashne Nariman, Bayan Nasih, Avan Omar, Nasrin Ramazanali, Mother Sabria, Bayan Saeed, Bayan Salman, Farah Sharefi, Susan Shahab, Simal (Anonymous), Shahla Yarhussein"--

Shadow of the Silk Road records a journey along the greatest land route on earth. Out of the heart of China into the mountains of Central Asia, across northern Afghanistan and the plains of Iran and into Kurdish Turkey, Colin Thubron covers some seven thousand miles in eight months. Making his way by local bus, truck, car, donkey cart and camel, he travels from the tomb of the Yellow Emperor, the mythic progenitor of the Chinese people, to the ancient port of Antioch—in perhaps the most difficult and ambitious journey he has undertaken in forty years of travel. The Silk Road is a huge network of arteries splitting and converging across the breadth of Asia. To travel it is to trace the passage not only of trade and armies but also of ideas, religions and inventions. But alongside this rich and astonishing past, Shadow of the Silk Road is also about Asia today: a continent of upheaval. One of the trademarks of Colin Thubron's travel writing is the beauty of his prose; another is his gift for talking to people and getting them to talk to him. Shadow of the Silk Road encounters Islamic countries in many forms. It is about changes in China, transformed since the Cultural Revolution. It is about false nationalisms and the world's discontented margins, where the true boundaries are not political borders but the frontiers of tribe, ethnicity, language and religion. It is a magnificent and important account of an ancient world in modern ferment.

Becoming a widow is one of the most traumatic life events that a woman can experience. Yet, as this remarkable new collection reveals, each woman responds to that trauma differently. Here, forty-three widows tell their stories, in their own words. Some were widowed young, while others were married for decades. Some cared for their late partners through long terminal illnesses, while others lost their partners suddenly. Some had male partners, while others had female partners. Yet each of these women faced the same basic dilemma: how to go on living when a part of you is gone. Widows’ Words is arranged chronologically, starting with stories of women preparing for their partners’ deaths, followed by the experiences of recent widows still reeling from their fresh loss, and culminating in the accounts of women who lost their partners many years ago but still experience waves of grief. Their accounts deal honestly with feelings of pain, sorrow, and despair, and yet there are also powerful expressions of strength, hope, and even joy. Whether you are a widow yourself or have simply experienced loss, you will be sure to find something moving and profound in these diverse tales of mourning, remembrance, and resilience.

Wild Swans meets Educated in this riveting true story spanning four generations 'Revelatory and remarkable' - TRENT DALTON 'Memorable and vivid' - RICHARD GLOVER 'Lands with a thump in your heart' - LISA MILLAR 'Heartbreaking and uplifting' - MEAGHAN WILSON ANASTASIOS 'An heroic saga' - MIKE MUNRO 'A must read!!' - AMY WANG 'Mimi's storytelling ability rivals many of my friends at Pixar!!' - DUNCAN WARDLE 'Enter on a journey that traverses culture and time...' - SIMON HENG The dragon circles and swoops ... a tiger running alone in the night ... Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi's beloved Aunt Theresa, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant's 32 children, Mimi's father, Francis, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi's mother, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed, chronic mental illness. Soon after, 'tiger' Mimi arrived, and her struggle with the past - and the dragon - began ... Riveting, colourful and often darkly humorous, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and finally putting them to rest. Throughout, her inspiration is Francis's late older sister, the jet-setting, free-spirited Aunt Theresa, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness. PRAISE FOR HOUSE OF KWA 'House of Kwa enchants and enthrals like the best kind of sweeping, dynastic fiction, but it rattles the bones and breaks the heart with the pure facts of Mimi Kwa's extraordinary story. Revelatory and remarkable storytelling.' Trent Dalton 'Personal and gut wrenching. Mimi lays her heart out on the page and bravely invites you inside her generation spanning tale. This is a book about forgiveness, empathy and compassion. A must read!!' Amy Wang, writer Crazy Rich Asians 2 'Anyone who knows me knows that I don't recommend books unless I LOVE them. House of Kwa is a rare work of non-fiction which balances page turning prose with lyrical depth. Do yourself and everyone you know a favour and dive in!' Megan Rogers, author The Heart is a Star 'An astonishing true tale that leaps across centuries and cultures to land with a thump in your heart.' Lisa Millar 'A startling tale of the past, its terrible grip on the present, and the battle to set yourself free. Full of scenes that hover between tragedy and farce, House of Kwa is one of the most compelling stories you'll read this year. Memorable and vividly told, this is a book for anybody forced to survive their own parents.' Richard Glover 'From the back streets of China to war-torn Hong Kong to suburban Australia, this is an heroic saga that reveals just some of the stories behind the multi-cultural nation we are today.' Mike Munro AO 'This is a charming and compelling story, an insight into a deeply traditional Chinese family in times when China was undergoing internally and externally induced upheaval.' South China Morning Post 'A rich and riveting read which heralds a new chapter in Kwa's life as a writer. The spirited tiger, full of life and driven to achieve, has many stories to tell yet.' The Weekend Australian 'House of Kwa answers the question of how one should write about one's family with generosity and love - to read it is to experience Kwa's wonder at the strength and resilience of her family, as well as the intimacy of her relationships with them. Traversing the boundaries of a traditional memoir, House of Kwa is the biography of a family that explores the way our lives are shaped by the past we can and cannot remember.' Kill Your Darlings 'An utterly captivating, gripping and inspirational tale of one woman's triumph over adversity. In this extraordinary multi-generational memoir, Kwa fearlessly grapples with questions of love, loyalty, and the power of the human spirit. Intimate and revelatory, House of Kwa is the most heart-breaking and uplifting book I have read in years and announces the arrival of an exciting writer.' Meaghan Wilson Anastasios 'If you're a fan of the book Educated by Tara Westover, as I am, and most readers I know are, then you have to read this.' Joan McKenzie, Joan's Picks, Whitcoulls 'Mimi's narrative about their family life is heart-breaking, hilarious, and often unbelievable.' Magic talk FM 'An exotic journey that takes readers through the contributions Chinese immigrants have made to multicultural Australia.' ABC Nightlife 'Kwa is an engaging storyteller.' Asian Review of Books 'Extraordinary - I couldn't put it down. Wonderfully written, this intriguing family story reads like a page-turning novel. The journey of the Kwa dynasty and its legacy is told in such rich, colourful detail, you feel like you are there. I loved it. Sue Smethurst 'I laughed, I grieved, I was intrigued. It took enormous strength to write this story of trauma, abuse, mental health, dislocation, racism and reinvention. Above all it is a story of love and kindness. It will resonate with so many people.' Kirsty Manning 'Mimi's storytelling ability rivals many of my friends at Pixar!! She draws us in to her world and allows us to peak behind the curtains of an often very painful childhood, bringing each character to life with heartfelt empathy. A story of resilience and rebirth as Mimi overcomes incredible odds to not only survive but thrive and in doing so exudes a wonderful sense of humour and extraordinary compassion.' Duncan Wardle, CEO ID8, Former Head of Disney Creativity 'Enter on a journey that traverses culture and time and the capacity of the human heart to forgive. House of Kwa will have you connecting with your own humanity.' Simone Heng - Let's Talk About Loneliness

'I can't remember ever reading anything so moving . . . It's so beautiful.' MARIAN KEYESThey say boys don't cry.But Finn's seen his Da do it when he thinks no one's looking, so that's not true.And isn't it OK to be sad, when bad things happen?They say boys don't cry, but you might . . .'Unforgettable.' Donal Ryan'Authentic to the bone' Kit de WaalIt will break your heart in a million different ways.' Louise O'Neill'Powerful and poignant.' Ruth Hogan'Hilarious and heartbreaking.' Louise NealonWhat readers are saying:'Fiona Scarlett is certainly up there with the likes of Roddy Doyle . . . A beautifully written, authentic novel, that will make you both laugh and cry, I just want to recommend this book to everyone.''This is a heartbreaking and very emotional novel that is exquisitely written. Fíona's writing style helps to bring such raw emotion to the text that it was impossible to not shed a tear!''I cried so much reading this book . . . A stunning read that I'll be thinking about for a long time.''There is a lot of humour to balance the heartache . . . All humanity is here, in all its shades, and that's what stays with you long after you finish reading. A brilliant debut.'

A remarkable story of the power of the individual voice to banish fear and isolation, this novel distills many divisive issues into a richly rewarding evocation of the immigrant experience in America's heartland.

Dervla Murphy's epic journey began during the coldest winter in living memory, and took her through Europe, Persia (Iran), Afghanistan, over the Himalayas to Pakistan and into India. A woman travelling alone in these countries was the unusual focus of interest and, even when the weather improved, there were difficulties and dangers enough to satisfy the most dedicated traveller. But although, in a world of vanishing tracks and political chaos, the solitary cyclist was grateful for the revolver in her saddle bag, her journey was enriched by acts of unexpected kindness. Full Tilt was Dervla Murphy's first journey and first book, starting a long and celebrated life of travel writing in the most remote and wildest parts of the world. So for someone who has read one of her books and enjoyed it, or for anyone who would like to get to know the work of one of our greatest and most intrepid travel writers, this is the book to take you back to where it all started.

From that venue you haven't made it to yet to the weekend in the Smokies you keep meaning to plan, experience something new right here at home with Moon 52 Things to Do in Nashville. Cool things to do in and around the city: Get your hands dirty at a maker studio, discover a new museum, or get to know some of the local artists on Jefferson Street. Take a dance lesson or songwriting class, scope out thrift stores, or get fitted for custom-made cowboy boots. Catch an up-and-comer at Two Old Hippies or go backstage at the Ryman. Take your bike to the Shelby Bottoms Greenway and grab a beer as a post-ride reward. Feast on Kurdish food, test your tastebuds on hot chicken, or taste your way through Southern barbecue history Day trips and weekend getaways: Sip samples at distilleries along the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, or groove to the blues in Memphis. Go whitewater rafting on the Ocoee, take the car out for cruise along the Natchez Trace Parkway, or go camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Experiences broken down by category: Find ideas for each season, activities with kids, outdoor adventures, historic sites, live music, and more A local's advice: Whether it's a bucket-list venue or an under-the-radar vintage shop, local author Margaret Littman knows the ins and outs of Nashville Inspirational full-color photos throughout Easy-to-scan planning tips: Addresses and time allotment, plus tips for avoiding the crowds if you're heading to a popular attraction What are you doing this weekend? Try something new with Moon 52 Things to Do in Nashville.