This was the first book I've read from a survivor of the Holocaust that gave me hope for humanity. It's hard to imagine anyone who endured the challenges Mr. Jaku did, seeing the worst side of human evil, and yet, still maintaining a positive outlook. He lived in Australia until he died in 2021. I was reading this during the height of Australia's Anti-Israel protests in 2024, and wondered how Mr. Jaku would respond to the people in his neighborhood. I would like his family to know the impact his story had on me, reminding me that we can choose how we look at our circumstances. We can let them control us or we can take control of them, if only in our minds.
'Eddie looked evil in the eye and met it with joy and kindness . . . [his] philosophy is life-affirming' - Daily Express
Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku made a vow to smile every day and now believes he is the 'happiest man on earth'. In his inspirational memoir, he pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story and sharing his wisdom.
Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you.
Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed…
This is a Japanese short story collection about 5 people who seek guidance from a librarian. Each character has a specific topic they ask the librarian to help them find books on, but the librarian always gives them an extra book that seems completely unrelated. She also gives them a gift, some items she was felting while speaking with them about their interest. As the lives of each character was changed after they read the books and gained new perspectives, I found myself wanting to meet this insightful librarian. The writing is fresh and the topic presented in such and original way, I found myself disappointed when the book ended. I could have disappeared into their world for much longer.
THE TWO-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING INTERNATIONAL NOVEL
The Top Ten Times bestseller A Time Magazine Book of the Year 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times
'I ADORED this uplifting, hopeful novel ' Daily Mail 'It made me laugh and cry and feel comforted' 5***** Reader review 'A tribute to the transformative power of books and libraries' Irish Times
An inspirational tale of the love, comfort and growth you can find in the pages of a good book. _________________ What are you looking for?
So asks Tokyo's most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi.
I love Venice and the way the author describes the city is as close to being there as one can get. Her words capture the essence of wandering the streets of Venice like no other book set in the city has before. I bought the book at our annual Friends of the Library sale several years ago, but just read it this year as I am finishing up my own novel set in Venice. As I read of the author's romance with both the city and a Venetian local, I felt transported there once again, walking the streets and experiencing the magic few cities hold.
Legacies are woven that bind fate or ignite dreams.
Jessie Cole worked hard to rise from humble beginnings to achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. He didn’t think he’d face a more difficult challenge until he became a father. Now, he must weigh his decisions and endeavor to raise his children with the values of faith, perseverance, and love that shaped his own life.
Mariana Cole has gazed up at the heavens with wonder since infancy. Tales of her father’s trips to space feed her curiosity and drive her to understand why humanity hasn’t traveled beyond our own moon. Will she follow her father’s path or blaze her own trail to change the trajectory of space exploration?
