Books about Distant from Amazon.com

The Distant Land of My Father begins like a fairy tale: "My father was a millionaire in Shanghai in the 1930s.... On the day he was born, in the province of Shantung, neighbors presented my missionary grandparents, the only Americans for miles, with noodles in great abundance and one hundred chicken eggs, in honor of their son's birth." To the young Anna Schoene, life in Shanghai is indeed magical. There are servants, a luxurious villa, a beautiful mother who smells like Chanel No. 5, and a young, handsome, polo-playing father. Unfortunately, her father is also a smuggler and speculator who loves his freewheeling life more than anything (or anyone) else. Despite warnings, Schoene refuses to leave Shanghai even after the Japanese invade, and his wife and child retreat to Los Angeles; later, he survives imprisonment and torture only to once again choose Shanghai over his family--this time with the Communists moving in.

Bo Caldwell's sepia-toned evocation of 1930s Shanghai is lovely and physical, and given the built-in drama of its setting, this first novel ought to have the vividness of a classic movie. Yet the characters remain oddly flat while world events swirl around them. Great chunks of historical exposition seem largely undigested, while Schoene's final change of heart fails to ring true. In a sense, however, these shortcomings are beside the point. The Distant Land of My Father is above all a tragic romance, albeit one with an unusual love interest. Schoene is so besotted with Shanghai that his wife and daughter are scarcely as real to him as the city itself. --Mary Park.
Price: $7.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

In this sweeping historical narrative, Barbara Tuchman writes of the cataclysmic 14th century, when the energies of medieval Europe were devoted to fighting internecine wars and warding off the plague. Some medieval thinkers viewed these disasters as divine punishment for mortal wrongs; others, more practically, viewed them as opportunities to accumulate wealth and power. One of the latter, whose life informs much of Tuchman's book, was the French nobleman Enguerrand de Coucy, who enjoyed the opulence and elegance of the courtly tradition while ruthlessly exploiting the peasants under his thrall. Tuchman looks into such events as the Hundred Years War, the collapse of the medieval church, and the rise of various heresies, pogroms, and other events that caused medieval Europeans to wonder what they had done to deserve such horrors..
Price: $7.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Sara Donati's novel Dawn on a Distant Shore picks up soon after the conclusion of her prior book, Into the Wilderness In the winter of 1794, on the edge of the New York wilderness, Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into the comforts of domestic bliss. Typically, however, adventure seeks these two out. Alone but for her stepdaughter Hannah, Elizabeth gives birth to twins, while Nathaniel and his father Hawkeye are imprisoned in Montreal. Determined to help her men, Elizabeth packs up the children and sets off to free them. Liberty does not bring relief to the Bonner clan, however, as sinister forces conspire to pirate them to Scotland and embroil them in a complex family feud.

History and adventure are slathered on thickly throughout this epic tale. Donati's talent for dialect and detail bring the large cast of characters to life, though the steady pace of dramatic catastrophe is somewhat exhausting. Will our heroes never get a break? Fans of Donati's earlier work will enjoy seeing the familiar characters, but new readers would benefit by reading the books in the series in order. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien.
Price: $3.91 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Most of us have prayed for someone facing a health challenge--only to wonder if it actually helped. What if there were a set of skills you could learn to optimize your ability to aid in the healing process? In Distant Healing, Jack Angelo teaches more than 50 powerful exercises for sending that energy wherever it is needed. With this accessible, user-friendly guide, readers join an international leader in the field of subtle energy and natural spiritual healing for in-depth instruction covering: * The anatomy of the human energy system * How to sense energy fields--your own and others--and retrieve the vital information stored there * Body-balancing and breathing exercises to attune your healing energies * Amplifying the effects of distant healing with groups * Tips for restoring health and harmony in plants and animals * How to send healing to troubled places around the world and to the environment. The ability to evoke a healing response--in ourselves, in others, and even in places or situations--is a gift we all possess, teaches Jack Angelo. It starts with the energy of love. Distant Healing makes available a complete handbook of exercises and insights to harness this universal force for the benefit of everyone around us..
Price: $11.66 [Notify me when price goes down.]

My dear reader—

Five years have now passed since the Winter War between the Outlands and Hetar. But Gaius Prospero has not given up his scheme to become emperor, and unexpected tragedy causes Lara to once again heed the pull of her destiny Finding herself across the sea in a secret new world known as Terah, she discovers that her magical abilities grow greater with each passing day.

Using her newfound powers, Lara lifts an ancient curse from the men of Terah, earning its ruler's gratitude—and his deep and passionate love. Magnus Hauk has never known a woman like Lara, and his fascination leads him to venture back across the sea with her to prevent another war. There, however, the ruler of Terah learns that betrayal is an everyday commodity; nothing is exactly what it seems in beautiful, sinister Hetar. And the lovers attract the animosity of Prospero, a dangerous enemy to have. For power, dear reader, does corrupt absolutely.

This tale continues to unfold within the corridors of my imagination. I hope you will enjoy Lara's further adventures as she continues to seek out her true destiny. I know I am enjoying writing it for you.

Bertrice Small

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Price: $3.33 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Mary Jo Putney’s passionate, vivid characters and captivating stories have earned enthusiastic acclaim from reviewers and readers everywhere. Now the New York Times bestselling author weaves a new tale in the Guardian series–a dazzling romantic fantasy that takes readers not only from the elegant streets of London to a dangerously tempting Mediterranean island but across time.

Jean Macrae’s family is one of the most prominent clans of Guardians, humans whose magical powers come from nature, but Jean considers her skills modest at best. She has never been able to summon the intense, earth-altering ability that has marked the most talented Guardians, and she is content without the adventure that such skill brings . . . until the day she is confronted by a handsome stranger whose magic imprisons her on his pirate ship.

Captain Nikolai Gregorio is convinced that Jean’s father abandoned him, as a child, to slavers. Now he seeks vengeance against the Macraes, no matter the cost. But Jean soon finds his untrained magical gifts far more dangerous than his thirst for revenge, especially when they intensify her own powers to an unthinkable–and enticing–degree. And when Jean and Nikolai’s irresistible connection summons a woman from the future, they are charged with a formidable task: protect those who will oppose slavery’s evil and forever change the future of two nations. This quest will sweep Jean and Nikolai into the most fantastic of realms and try their powers beyond even what the Guardians themselves would dare. And when ultimate disaster threatens, they will stake everything on a shattering test of love that could secure the fate of generations . . . or destroy them and all they cherish.


From the Hardcover edition..
Price: $3.37 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Thalassa was a paradise above the earth. Its beauty and vast resources seduce its inhabitants into a feeling of perfection But then the Magellan arrives, carrying with it one million refugees from the last mad days of earth. Paradise looks indeed lost.....
Price: $2.63 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Anne's sorrow over her husband's death has been eased by the unexpected discovery of his heritage in the Harrow family and by her marriage to a brilliant young theologian. But Nicole is as restless as ever and has decided to retutn to North America. Should she go to the Acadian family of her childhood in Louisiana's bayous? Or should she settle in Nova Scotia near her birth parents? The American colonies are in revolt against England, and Uncle Charles asks her to go to Massachusetts to oversee his extensive landholdings. The attentions of the ship's captain during the crossing touch a yearning deep within her, but she also realizes all her loyalties are about to be tested. Is she French? Is she English? Is she a supporter of the American cause? Nicole's unique legacy will allow her to play an extraordinary role in the unfolding historic events, but will she be able to find a home for her heart?".
Price: $1.92 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Everyone loves to take part in an adventure--whether it's traveling to an exciting place, playing a new instrument, or joining a team. Also, as you may know from reading a good book or listening to friends, learning about the experiences of others can be a thrill. Prepare to take a voyage around the world--from high above Earth's atmosphere to the powerful oceans below, from Alaska's snowy wilderness to cities and schools just like yours. You will read stories developed in the minds of imaginative writers and adventures experienced by real people in real places. In Distant Voyages, you will meet brave characters, including some American heroes, who either seek a challenge or are faced with one unexpectedly. Maybe you will find that someone else's voyage is like one of your own! Come travel with us in search of excitement,surprise, and adventure. Sincerely, The Authors.
Price: $30.50 [Notify me when price goes down.]