Kerouac rides again
Author: Jack Kerouac Publisher: Penguin, 426 pages
PUBLISHED in its entirety for the first time, this is the celebrated Beat Generation author’s debut novel. The original handwritten manuscript, written after Kerouac’s tour as a merchant marine on the SS Dorchester in 1942, was not published during his lifetime (1922-1969).
Revolving around the theme of “man’s simple revolt from society as it is, with the inequalities, frustration and self-inflicted agonies”, this novel follows the fortunes of Wesley Martin, a man who loved the sea “with a strange, lonely love”. This edition also includes pictures and fragments of the author’s early writing and letters from the early 1940s.
The Secret Letters Of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Author: Robin Sharma Publisher: Harper element, 223 pages
ROBIN Sharma has been writing about The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari for 15 years now, selling millions of copies of his self-help titles that feature advice wrapped in stories centred on fictional monk Julian Mantle.
In this new book, Julian sets his cousin Jonathan travelling the world to retrieve mementoes and hidden letters that record Julian’s hard-earned knowledge about living life well.
From the tango halls of Buenos Aires to the catacombs of Paris, the deserts of Sedona and the towers of Shanghai, Jonathan’s journey reveals transformational lessons for happiness, success and how to lead a meaningful life.
Robert Ludlum’s The Ares Decision Author: Kyle Mills Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 426 pages
THIS is the eighth title in the Covert-One series that began in 1999 with the thriller The Hades Factor written by the late Robert Ludlum – yes, the guy who wrote the Bourne trilogy that transferred so successfully to the big screen. Ludlum died in 2001 but his estate has been hiring authors to continue producing books based on his original characters.
In The Ares Decision, Covert-one’s top operative, army microbiologist Jon Smith, investigates an unusual incident in Africa in which an entire village goes on a rampage, killing with what seems like supernatural speed and strength.
He discovers that the madness is caused by a natural parasite – that might not be so natural any more. And when Jon and his team are cut off from all outside support, he starts to smell a rat spelt t-e-r-r-o-r-i-s-m.
Following Ezra Author: Tom Fields-Meyer Publisher: New American Library, 239 pages
EZRA isolated himself from other kids and spent unusually long periods arranging jungle animals and dinosaur figurines in symmetrical patterns on the back porch. Meal times were too noisy for him and he would cover his ears and run out the door. What do you do when your son is diagnosed with autism? The therapist suggested to author Tom Fields-meyer that he should grieve for the child Ezra didn’t turn out to be, but the author resolved to do the opposite.
This story charts the 10-year journey of father and son, from the day of diagnosis as a toddler to a happy adolescence today.
Altar Of Bones Author: Philip Carter Publisher: Pocket Books, 645 pages
AFTER her grandmother is murdered, San Francisco lawyer Zoe Dmitroff receives a letter informing her that she is now the keeper of an ancient secret involving the Altar of Bones.
Many people would kill to be in her shoes: her own mother, a mysterious business tycoon, and even the Russian mob. And then someone sends a pair of ruthless assassins after her, and Zoe finds herself on the run and forced to turn to a stranger, Ry O’malley, for help. But O’malley has his own dangerous secrets too.
A Leader’s Heart Author: John Maxwell Publisher: Advantage Quest, 382 pages
EVEN the strongest leaders have their struggles. Others depends on you, but who can you depend on? Where do you draw your strength from? Who can inspire you? Leadership expert John Maxwell offers his concepts and strategies designed specifically for leaders and presented with scriptural meditations in a journal format.
Maxwell discusses topics like teamwork, mentoring, success, dependability and bringing out the best in people. Each devotional is followed by space for you to scribble down your thoughts during self-reflection sessions.
500 Acres And No Place To Hide Author: Susan Mccorkindale Publisher: New American Library, 351 pages
MOVING from the suburbs on the American East Coast to a cattle farm in the middle of the state of Virginia was no walk in the park for the author. It has been four years of living among goats and cows instead of Wall Street tycoons and fashionistas, and Susan Mccorkindale has adapted better than she imagined.
But you can take the woman out of the city, but not the big city life out of the woman: Mccorkindale tramps through manure in her Manolos, puts pink collars on bull calves, and misses having a grande soy mocha latte in a cosy street cafe.
Titanic: Voices From The Disaster Author: Deborah Hopkinson Publisher: Scholastic Press, 275 pages
THAT fateful April 15 night in 1912 when the supposedly unsinkable ship hit an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage still haunts us. Weaving together the voices and stories of survivors and witnesses, this book is filled with fascinating details. The story follows the Titanic and its passengers from the grand launch of the ship to her icy end. Black and white photographs after every couple of pages add to the gripping tale.