Otherwise

Otherwise

Farley Mowat

Outdoors & Nature / History / Biographies & Memoirs

A Canadian icon gives us his final book, a memoir of the events that shaped this beloved writer and activist. Farley Mowat has been beguiling readers for fifty years now, creating a body of writing that has thrilled two generations, selling literally millions of copies in the process. In looking back over his accomplishments, we are reminded of his groundbreaking work: He single-handedly began the rehabilitation of the wolf with Never Cry Wolf. He was the first to bring advocacy activism on behalf of the Inuit and their northern lands with People of the Deer and The Desperate People. And his was the first populist voice raised in defense of the environment and of the creatures with whom we share our world, the ones he has always called The Others. Otherwise is a memoir of the years between 1937 and the autumn of 1948 that tells the story of the events that forged the writer and activist. His was an innocent childhood, spent free of normal strictures, and largely in the company of an assortment of dogs, owls, squirrels, snakes, rabbits, and other wildlife. From this, he was catapulted into wartime service, as anxious as any other young man of his generation to get to Europe and the fighting. The carnage of the Italian campaign shattered his faith in humanity forever, and he returned home unable and unwilling to fit into post-war Canadian life. Desperate, he accepted a stint on a scientific collecting expedition to the Barrengrounds. There in the bleak but beautiful landscape he finds his purpose — first with the wolves and then with the indomitable but desperately starving Ihalmiut. Out of these experiences come his first pitched battles with an ignorant and uncaring federal bureaucracy as he tries to get aid for the famine-stricken Inuit. And out of these experiences, too, come his first books. Otherwise goes to the heart of who and what Farley Mowat is, a wondrous final achievement from a true titan.
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The Siege Of Apuao Grande

The Siege Of Apuao Grande

John Muir

Outdoors & Nature / Science / Naturalism

The first novel involving T.A., a tourist to the Philippines, seeking romance, becomes inextricably involved in an armed uprising at an isolated tourist resort, part of a national rebellion. Unsure what to do, he is foolishly guided by the actions of his fictional heroes in the many novels he has read. Then, at a loss, he teams up with a mysterious ex-pat permanent resident of the island.This is the first of three novels involving T.A. Returning to the Philippines to reunite with his girlfriend, and return to their isolated island tourist resort to rekindle their romance, he becomes an unwilling and inexperienced participant in a national armed uprising. He is only aware of the local events and initially thinks he has stumbled on a massive drug-smuggling operation and is unsure if, of how he should resist. Untrained for such events, initially he is guided only by the actions of the fictional characters in the many novels he has read. A mysterious ex-pat, permanent resident on the island, reluctantly takes him under his wing and T.A. tries not to be a burden as they try to save themselves and as many tourists as they can.
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Born to Trot

Born to Trot

Marguerite Henry

Children's Books / Outdoors & Nature

Gibson can hear the beat of the horses' hooves against the track. Trotters are the world to him. But all he ever does is practice. He's still too young and inexperienced to drive in a real race. Only he knows he's ready for the big league. If people would give him a chance, then they would know it, too. Gib's chance comes in a filly named Rosalind. Now Gib can prove that he's man enough to train a champion. But does he really have what it takes? Can he and Rosalind go all the way to win the Hambletonian, the greatest race of all?
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City of Endless Night

City of Endless Night

Milo Hastings

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Outdoors & Nature / Health, Mind & Body

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world\'s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
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  • 595
The Second Fly Caster: Fatherhood, Recovery and an Unforgettable Tournament

The Second Fly Caster: Fatherhood, Recovery and an Unforgettable Tournament

Randy Kadish

Outdoors & Nature / Spirituality / Sports

Erik is proud that his father is a great fly caster, but then an unexpected outcome of a casting tournament leaves Erik questioning what once seemed to be only a sport.Years later, these questions deepen when Erik’s ideals are crushed by war. He struggles with his demons, until a discovery leads him to new meanings of fly casting. Through their prism, Erik sees the world in a forgiving light.From The Second Fly Caster:When I was a boy I thought my father was the greatest fly caster on earth, so I grew up dreaming of following in his way and not of becoming, as my mother wanted, an accountant.Today, I am a man who often relives the important events in my life, but when I think back to the five state casting tournaments my father won, most of their images and sounds have melted and flowed into downstream memories, except for the images and sounds of one special tournament. Instead of fading over time, they ripened in my mind in more than just a visual way, and now they are almost as vivid as the moments of today. …e-Story Description: Erik, a young boy, is proud that his father, the winner of several state championships, is probably the greatest long distance fly caster on earth. But then a threatening prelude and an unexpected outcome of a casting tournament leave Erik reeling with unanswered questions about what once seemed to be only a sport.These questions linger and then, years later, deepen when Erik’s idealistic plans and actions are crushed when he experiences combat in the Vietnam War. He struggles, unsuccessfully, with his demons, until a seemingly accidental discovery lead him back to the ways and new meanings of fly casting. Through their prism Erik learns to see himself and the world in a forgiving light.
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An Artist's Freedom

An Artist's Freedom

John Muir

Outdoors & Nature / Science / Naturalism

A sample story from the collection of 13 stories in Short Shorts & Longer Tales. A deaf mute aboriginal artist loses a canvas on which he has painted his life. Though he knows where it is, and he can see it, he can't touch or reclaim it. But his ancestral upbringing means he can't leave it behind, so he remains in the vicinity to be near it, passing his time waiting an opportunity.The sample story, "An Artist's Freedom", is merely to give an appetizer from the collection of 13 stories in "Short Shorts & Longer Tales." The sample story tells of an aboriginal deaf mute who loses a canvas on which he has painted his life. Though he knows where it is, and he can see it, he can't touch or reclaim it. But his ancestral upbringing means he can't leave it behind, so he remains in the vicinity to be near it, passing his time waiting for an opportunity to reclaim it. The story earned a 4th placing in the NZ Writers' College nationwide competition in 2010. The full collection is widely varied in location including Japan, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand; varied in nature from wonderfully witty, superb suspense and seriously sad tales. Varying in length from 1,000 words to a 15,000 word novella. Easily readable without a dictionary by your side.
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The Battles of Tolkien

The Battles of Tolkien

David Day

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Poetry / Outdoors & Nature

The defining battles from the history of Middle-earth are presented in a single, entertaining volume.The history of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth is filled with epic battles in an ongoing struggle between good and evil. The Battles of Tolkien recounts many of the greatest conflicts over thousands of years, from the earliest skirmishes of the Valarian Ages to the defining battles in the War of the Ring. Insightful commentary by Tolkien scholar David Day discusses how the people, tactics, and weapons influenced the outcome of each battle, and also how the legends of Middle-earth relate to the real-world mythology on which Tolkien based his famous literary creation. Maps and full-color illustrations help bring this rich universe to life, making it an invaluable reference book for Tolkien fans of all ages. This work is unofficial and is not authorized by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.
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Brighty of the Grand Canyon

Brighty of the Grand Canyon

Marguerite Henry

Children's Books / Outdoors & Nature

Long ago, a lone little burro roamed the high cliffs of the Grand Canyon and touched the hearts of all who knew him: a grizzled old miner, a big-game hunter, even President Teddy Roosevelt. Named Brighty by the prospector who befriended him, he remained a free spirit at heart. But when a ruthless claim-jumper murdered the prospector, loyal Brighty risked everything to bring the killer to justice. Brighty's adventures have delighted generations of readers, and he has become the symbol of a joyous way of life. Some people say that you can even see his spirit roving the canyon on moonlit nights-forever wild, forever free.
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  • 585
Snow Tracks

Snow Tracks

Jean Craighead George

Children's Books / Outdoors & Nature

Chief Half-an-Ear, the oldest mouse in the woods, is being hunted by all the animals of the forest, who follow his tracks through the snow. But when they reach the end of his trail, none of the animals can find the little mouse chief. Then another hunter appears in the woods—this one on two legs, not four. He follows the tracks left by the weasel, the skunk, the raccoon, and the fox, but where the others found a dead end, the two-legged hunter finds just what he was hoping for. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Jean Craighead George, including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.
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  • 584
Fillets of Plaice

Fillets of Plaice

Gerald Durrell

Outdoors & Nature / Biographies & Memoirs / Science

Durrell's hilarious and warm My Family and Other Animals (1957) began a trio of reminiscences of his life growing up with a slightly dotty family—the overbearing and omniscient Larry; the affectionate and loving siblings, Margot and Leslie; and, of course, the overburdened and patient Mother—on the island of Corfu in the 1930s, when a pound could buy a villa and life was conducted as a series of riotously high (and sometimes low) adventures. But what shines through these five vignettes is the author's engagement with and immense affection for animals in all their forms. From fish to fowl, from lizards to little water fleas (daphnia), Durrell's eye is acute and his prose is tart. You can read this book for the humor alone (for he did perceive his family as some rare and rarefied species), but between the lines you can discern the makings of a world-class naturalist and a cultivated and engaging writer.
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Blacky the Crow

Blacky the Crow

Thornton W. Burgess

Children's Books / Outdoors & Nature

Children will love this wonderful tale of Blacky the Crow, who has very sharp eyes, and who is often getting into trouble because he sees things he shouldn\'t. One day Blacky notices two fresh eggs in a nest belonging to Hooty the Owl and Mrs. Hooty. The eggs are a prize too delicious to pass up and Blacky devises a plan to snatch them. But does he succeed? Young readers will enjoy finding out in this charming tale by master storyteller Thornton W. Burgess.Reset in large, easy-to-read type, this book is filled with gentle humor and important lessons about nature and wildlife, and is further enhanced by four original Harrison Cady illustrations. Blacky the Crow is sure to captivate youngsters discovering the joy of reading and the pleasures of storytelling at its finest.
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