Showing results by narrator "Jack Wynters" in All Categories

Behind the facade of a perfect marriage lies a dangerous secret. Kenneth Lund's introduction of the swinging lifestyle may have seemed harmless at first, but it soon leads to the unravelling of his idyllic life. Faced with tragedy, Kenneth must confront his selfish ways and make amends. But as he tries to rebuild, he is tempted and drawn back into the seductive world of the swingers' club, Callisto Akantha. Will Kenneth succumb to his addiction to sex, or will he find the strength to resist the allure of pleasure at any cost?

Our three heroes are born on three adjacent beds, a mere three seconds apart. United by a shared nature, they often feel each other’s emotions as if those emotions are their own. When a fire burns through their homes, killing their families, they are cast apart. Mayer is adopted by a wealthy couple, Archibald by a loving uncle and aunt, and Hugo is dumped in the workhouse.

The tendency for art to detach itself from any duty to reflect observed reality manifested itself in avant-garde art production almost from the beginnings of the Modern Movement in art. It is already present in pure form in Malevich’s drastically reductive Black Square, which consists of exactly that, a black square on a white ground. It is interesting to note the way in which this work was exhibited when it was first put before the public.

The word avant-garde, so much used in connection with the various manifestations of contemporary art, is starting to have a strange, ironic ring to it. One might even claim that it is starting to signify what is behind the times, rather than in front of them. Like all such terms, it is in fact a metaphor, rather than a direct description. Borrowed from old-fashioned military terminology, it seeks to describe a situation where social norms are being perpetually challenged by artists. In the military sphere, where it originated, it is long out of use.

Spring 1917 - the war has been raging for over two and a half years, and neither the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey) nor the Entente (Britain, France, Russia, and Italy) are any closer to a decisive victory. In Russia, the Revolution and enforced abdication of the Tsar has left the country in the shaky hands of the Provisional Government, but as the Bolsheviks begin to seize power, it is clear that behind the scenes, something rather sinister is occurring.

In this modern world of too much money that discontented wife no longer gains pleasure from buying a new pair of shoes and the frazzled husband has lost interest in fitting new gadgets on his car, making it easy, too easy, to move from consumerism to physical pleasures. And with online websites so readily available there are more than enough ways to dabble. Jessica's husband, Kenneth Lund, surprised her on their tenth wedding anniversary with an unaccustomed night of wild sex. It was hot and spicy and she loved it, making it easy, too easy, to shift their sex life from mundane to erotic, one clouded by too much booze.

When I visited the huge Damien Hirst exhibition staged by the Gagosian Gallery in New York in 1996, one of the most striking pieces was a large glass tank full of live fish. Dumped among the fish were an obstetrical couch, in a rather decayed condition, and various obstetrical implements. For some time after I had seen the show, this image tugged at my mind. It reminded me of something - but of what? Finally, memory dragged up the reference I needed: Hirst's piece was a direct descendant of Salvador Dali's installation, "Rainy Taxi".

This may seem a funny moment to proclaim that nothing much is happening in art - certainly not in contemporary art. In many ways, the art world has never seemed more vibrant and active, and this activity is increasingly focused on what is defined as contemporary. There hasn’t, in fact, been a moment like this in the relatively recent history of art since the mid-19th century. If one looks at the years of political and economic chaos between 1789 and 1815, as the fortunes of war swayed back and forth, this is not surprising.

A good art collection is always much more than the sum of its parts. This applies with especial force to collections of contemporary work. A collection of this kind, whether the collector intends it to be so or not, is always a portrait - a reflection in the mirror of a particular epoch, and, willy-nilly, a self-portrait of the person who takes the trouble to bring it together.

In the summer of 1914, the capitals of Europe erupt in a patriotic frenzy as peoples on all sides, roused by the press, rejoice at the outbreak of the "war to end wars". The rejoicing soon turns to disillusionment as the full horrors of the bloodiest conflict the world has ever seen become apparent. For the Emperors of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia comes the growing awareness that this war, which they sought desperately to avoid, is not being fought for territory or honor, but rather to destroy the old world order and to replace their autocracies with secular ideologies and international economic control.

In Simply Hitchcock, author and movie critic David Sterritt explores the celebrated director’s entire career, from its beginnings in the British silent film industry to its glory days in Hollywood. He shows Hitchcock as a consummate artist who dealt with deep existential and psychological issues, as well as a mischievous prankster who loved playing tricks on the audience and never missed a chance to pull a dead rabbit out of a hat.

The first emperor of France and one of the shrewdest military leaders of all time, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) eventually came to control much of Europe. In Simply Napoleon, authors J. David Markham and Matthew Zarzeczny tell Napoleon's story, from his birth on the island of Corsica to his eventual imprisonment and death on the island of Saint Helena. They explain how the famed military commander's unique combination of determination, intellect, and personal charisma allowed him to rise from a provincial village to become a powerful and authoritative ruler. While taking an overall positive view of Napoleon, Markham and Zarzeczny also make it a point to draw attention to his mistakes and their consequences, providing a balanced picture of this complicated figure who was both a product of his times and a man pointing the way to the future.

According to legend, Annas Zevi, an artist who witnessed the raising of Lazarus, was told by Christ to paint what he saw. Over the centuries, his completed works have vanished, along with every other painting depicting Lazarus' resurrection. They were rumored to be sacred icons with miraculous powers. International art recovery experts Broderick Ladro and Ulla Stuart are hired by a disgraced high court judge, Sir Maxwell Throgmorton, to locate a long lost medieval painting by Spanish artist Francisco Cortez. Like Zevi, his work is said to be divinely inspired.

Life around Sophie was never boring. She did chants, read Tarot Cards and, to Amy's and Julie's surprise, during a séance Sophie had seemingly called up her dead grandmother. Then Sophie received a book from her sister, Anna, on Witches' Spells, inspiring her to delve deeper into the supernatural. When they heard that Margie, the crazy lady from down the street, was involved in witchcraft, Sophie was eager to find out if there was any truth in what people were saying.

Matthew Blackwell smiled as he stirred Haley's drink, spiked with enough ketamine to render her unconscious. For many weeks he had been planning this evening, to have sex his way. It was going to be a night to remember. Matthew believed that money was power. With it he got what he wanted and he felt that he could do anything to women. Always at his side was his good friend, Ryan Crowe. Matthew had the financial means and Ryan seemingly had the connections.

Hidden away in the depths of the forest lies a secret. As the full moon casts an eerie glow over the trees, Jacob sneaks away from his slumbering parents and makes his way to a moss and lichen covered outcrop. Armed with a magnifying glass, night vision goggles, and his book on the stars, Jacob delves into the enchanting and illusionary forest. It's a place of wonder and mystery, filled with secrets beyond his wildest dreams.

Emily Walker hated that they were moving to Collingwood House and became distressed when she read the details on the real estate listing - Haunted House. They moved anyway, 4000 kilometers away from her best friend and to the seaside. The old house creaked and groaned, things went missing, doors banged, shadows moved from room to room, and dead animals were found in unusual places.

Hidden within the depths of the boreal forest lies a secret that could change everything for Ashenee, a young Cree woman born to a traditional family. In her isolated community, they follow the customs and beliefs of their ancestors, blissfully unaware of the countless missing aboriginal women from other nearby communities. As Ashenee embarks on a journey to her mother's village, she begins to sense a foreboding presence, a warning that something is amiss.

Step into a world which is both magically fictitious and shockingly real, to follow the lives of Tamsin, Ellie, Arun, and Charlie; a refugee, native, occupier, and economic migrant. Watch them grow up during a halcyon past, an everyday present, and a dystopian future. And be prepared to be amazed. Inspired by the occupations of Palestine, Kurdistan, and Tibet, and by the corporate occupation of the west, Occupied is a haunting glance into a society which is too familiar for comfort. It truly is a unique piece of literary fiction.

Stella's world was one of misery and despair, wandering the streets of Victoria, BC, cold, wet and hungry. She had adapted to street-life, but on most days, she would rather be dead. Living amongst the nameless, faceless and placeless tribe of the homeless, Stella's very existence depended on the generosity of strangers. She never spoke of her past, determined to keep her life-story a secret. Faced with constant hunger, Stella begged and pushed her trolley filled with junk, trying to remain invisible as she moved from alcove to park bench and back again, clinging to anonymity.