4 Top Reads for a Holiday in Crete

If you're taking a holiday walking in Crete you're likely to be in need of some rest and relaxation in the evenings; why not take one of the many books set in Crete with you and immerse yourself even more deeply into the Cretan way of life?

Zorba the Greek, by Nikos Kazantzakis

Perhaps the most famous Crete-based book of all, Zorba the Greek has become a classic of Greek literature. Published in 1946, the novel was adapted into a film in 1964, leading to even greater success. Zorba the Greek is the tale of a young intellectual from mainland Greece who is pushed into action after a friend leaves to help ethnic Greeks who are being persecuted in the Caucasus. The book is the ideal first book choice for those walking in Crete to gain an insight into the fascinating history of the island and its surrounds.

The intellectual narrator plans to set off for Crete with dreams of re-opening a coal mine and involving himself in the world of the working class. Before leaving for the island he meets the mysterious, lascivious and passionate Alexis Zorba, and quickly becomes convinced to employ him as a foreman. On the island they follow different passions - the narrator reading Dante and Zorba indulging in his more animal passions. Once the mine opens their different approaches to life clash and the narrator begins to reassess his philosophies on life.

The Colossus of Maroussi, by Henry Miller

While much of this book is set in mainland Greece, it is still a great addition to the reading list for those walking in Crete. Miller's prose perfectly complements his natural sense of an outsider in a foreign society. The text is a semi-autobiographical account of Miller's travels in Greece with his friend Lawrence Durrell.

The Island, by Victoria Hislop

For those walking in Crete looking for a more contemporary author, Victoria Hislop's 2005 debut The Island should be ideal. The book won numerous awards on its release and has been adapted into the most expensive Greek TV series in history. The tale recounts the story of a teenager who develops in an interest in her family's past - a subject about which she knows very little. She travels to Crete to see where her mother was born and is gradually presented with the sad history of the area.

You are Here, by Steve Horsfall

Described in reviews as the ideal holiday book, You are Here is the perfect romp for those walking in Crete looking for a lighter read full of feel-good scenes. The story follows four thirty-somethings who, fearing the onset of middle-age, set off in pursuit of the opposite sex on the island.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us walking in Crete to see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices. We offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 65 different countries.

3 Great Summer Reads!

Summer reads are always top on my list for vacation plans.

Sure, it is great to visit the heritage sites, travel to the shores of lake and ocean; but, there is something special about settling down in a comfortable spot with a cool drink and an interesting book.

Fiction writers have a knack for taking us to haunting locations, introducing us to memorable characters facing conflicts in the now and then. Authors, Susanna Kearsley and Rosamunde Pilcher have a particular talent for this.

Kearsley, takes the route of historical romance in The Winter Sea and The Rose Garden. From page one in her books, she invites the reader to journey with present-day characters who somehow have a connection to the past. No spoilers here but, if you like stories that have a time element to them, you will not be disappointed. You will, also, grasp the historical settings in myriad details included by Kearsley who was nominated for the 2009 RITA awards plus a more recent win of the 2010 Readers' Choice Historical Fiction Award.

Both Kearsley books take the reader to British settings in the present and past. The Winter Sea delves into Scottish history in the Eighteenth Century with its political turmoil connecting to the present in Kearsley's romantic fiction. In The Rose Garden, the American main character Eva is drawn to Cornwall for reasons explained in the story. The magic of Cornwall comes through in this novel, definitely a great respite on a rainy day!

My third recommendation is a novel from the 80s, award winning Rosamunde Pilcher's book The Shell Seekers. This best-selling novel is, also, a captivating read from start to finish as it traces the story of Penelope Keeling and her family through 20th century decades of troubled war-time years, summer days at the beach, a Greek island, Scotland's Edinburgh and Penelope's own country cottage in a small British village.

Pilcher's portrayal of Penelope's youth, as an only child growing up with a talented artist father and loving beautiful mother are intertwined with segments of Penelope's own marriage and lives of her grown up children. This novel has been translated into a movie version,starring Angela Lansbury; however, if you want to savour the whole story, read this book.

By the way, upon rereading The Shell Seekers, it has stood the test of time! You may even want to check out Rosamunde Pilcher's other novels and short stories.

These works of fiction by Susanna Kearsley and Rosamunde Pilcher are definitely the type of books you want to add to your vacation supplies. They will provide a great get-a-way to be sure!

Buying Books And Specialist Bookstores

The variety and range of books available is forever increasing, and for book readers this is great news. Both online bookstores and the traditional walk in bookshops are now offering variety and selection, that was hard to find as little as 10-15 years ago. Especially before the internet really opened the gateway to worldwide shopping. You can now order from around the world more easily than ever before, and hunt down the books you always wanted!

But even now with so much variety, sometimes there are books you may not be able to easily find. If you have an interest in buying books in one particular area or genre, or you are simply after a one-off book on a specific subject, a specialty bookstore may just be what you need! Specialty bookstores are just as the name suggests, specialists in a particular area of bookselling.

Some examples of a specialty bookstore include:

- A bookstore that only sells books on one subject. e.g. 'Military Books', or even a sub-specialty like 'Unit History Military Books' or 'Military Biographies' or 'Military Reference'.

- Or may specialize in 'The History of Country' e.g: Australian History.

- Or sells books on all subjects, but only offers books that are considered 'antique'.

- Or offers limited edition and signed books.

- Or niche market books, (books you may not find in a general bookstore).

- Or books only from one popular author, or publisher.

- Or today, even just e-books, not paper copies.

These are just examples only, and you may find a combination of the above. But in general, specialist booksellers do not try to cover all markets, and prefer to narrow down their range in the hope to provide a service to a particular and specific book buyer &/or market.

Like many booksellers, specialist bookshops may also combine New & Secondhand books in their range. This is a bonus for niche or rare book collectors, as a large selection of the rare and hard to find books are usually out of print, and now only available used and secondhand. You will also have a bookseller who spends their day around a specific subject, or interest. That is great if the interest is also yours, as you can easily ask for recommendations from someone who shares that same interest. You could also ask if they offer a rare book search, if so, you will have an experienced pair of eyes looking out for your wanted books! Many bookshops offer this service of course, it is not unique, but specialist booksellers, from dealing with publishers, authors and Customers in the same field everyday, may have a few extra places to look, that others may not be aware of.

Regardless of your interest, there are sure to be specialty bookshops that cater to you, either online or off.

With the increasing presence of the internet in today's world, more and more bookstores, and specialist bookstores are popping up everywhere, and for today's readers it can only get better, and thankfully so!

Award-Winning Author Bertrice Small

Background of Bertrice Small

Bertrice Small is an award-winning American novelist who was born in Manhattan and has lived on eastern Long Island for 35 years. The New York Times bestselling author has written 50 novels, among which most of them belong to the genre of historical romance. Small has also written several well-received novels in the genres of fantasy romance and erotic contemporary.

The outstanding and talented author has also received many awards for her novels, such as Outstanding Historical Romance Series, Best Historical Romance and Career Achievement for Historical Fantasy. Recently, in 2008, Small was recognized as a Pioneer of Romance by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine for her significant literary works and contributions to the genre. A few years earlier in 2004, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award by ROMANTIC TIMES magazine.

Besides achieving great success in the literary world with her outstanding novels, Bertrice Small is also highly recognised in the community as a member of various literary organizations, such as The Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America.

Popular and Bestselling Novels

Small has written numerous novel series that have clinched spots in bestselling novel lists. Her first novel series was "Leslie Family Saga Series" which was published in 1978. Subsequently, Small also wrote many popular novel series like the "O'Malley Family Saga Series", "Skye's Legacy Series" and the "Friarsgate Inheritance Saga Series". The "O'Malley Family Saga Series" has captivated the hearts of many fans, telling the tales of the fascinating adventures of the Irish protagonist Skye O'Malley and her involvement in royal conflicts, passionate pursuits and bold encounters. Readers will truly enjoy this novel as they flip page after page, relishing the excitement in the novel.

In 2010, Small has released new titles for her novel series, such as "Passionate Pleasures" (Book 5 of "Channel Pleasures Series"), "The Border Vixen" (Book 5 of "The Border Chronicles") and "Crown of Destiny" (Book 6 of "World of Hetar" Series).

Small has also written single titles, each with a unique concept, plot and storyline, such as "The Kadin", "Love Wild and Fair" and "A Moment in Time", which are also popular among fans.

Besides working on her own individual novels and series, Small has collaborated with other authors to produce several anthologies as well.

Upcoming books

Small will be releasing new titles in late 2011, "Guilty Pleasures" (Book 6 of "Channel Pleasures Series") and "Bond of Passion" (Book 6 of "The Border Chronicles").

Advocate of Acmamall.com. Acmamall.com is an international online store selling over a million book titles offering free shipping to Singapore and Malaysia orders. Acmamall.com is committed to providing Safe, Trustworthy and Convenient online retail services for all her customers. To find out more about Acmamall.com, visit www.acmamall.com

Pulp Fiction's "The Falcon Killer"

Originally published in 1939 this story takes place in the Orient where "The Falcon Killer, (Tzun Kai)," is really Bill Gaylord, China's war ace fighter pilot.

Born to American parents but being raised in Peking, Gaylord finds himself in a foster home when both his parents lose their life during a violent Boxer uprising. He suffers a second major blow when his foster family is slaughtered during wartime. Such tragedy at a tender age was enough to harden his soul and give him nerves of steel. This gives him the edge he needs to take on the enemy Japanese war planes, of which he intends to blast as many as he can out of the skies.

He soon finds himself embroiled in events that send him in search of a Japanese spy whose treachery could spell disaster, a disaster so huge that if he does not find and defeat this man, an entire ancient Chinese kingdom could be lost to the land of the rising sun.

This is one of the many pulp fiction stories L. Ron Hubbard wrote from the late 1920s to the 1950s. What I love about this book and many of the other stories he has written, is that he brings a sense of realism to his characters, story line, and exotic locals that depict the era of that time. His extensive travels around the globe have served him well as a writer. Here is a quote from him that I think is so true:

"In writing an adventure story a writer has to know that he is adventuring for a lot of people who cannot. The writer has to take them here and there about the globe and show them excitement and love and realism. As long as that writer is living the part of an adventurer when he is hammering the keys, he is succeeding with his story. Adventuring is a state of mind. If you adventure through life, you have a good chance to be a success on paper. Adventure doesn't mean globe-trotting, exactly, and it doesn't mean great deeds. Adventuring is like art. You have to live it to make it real."

That, I think, sums it up very well. In this story, "The Falcon Killer," the aerial battles are spectacular and the intrigue and narrow escapes keep you guessing. Gaylord has another ace up his sleeve, a tattoo of a half dragon, which has a meaning only the Chinese know. It is the twist you did not see coming!

Whether you are a pulp fiction fan or just beginning your adventure with these books, I think you will not be disappointed. These stories written seventy, eighty to ninety years ago give you a unique perspective of the flavor of that time. Many great writers came from the pulp fiction era such as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Raymond Chandler, Lester Dent, H.P. Love craft and L. Ron Hubbard to name a few.

Enjoy your adventures reading through the wonderful stories from the Golden Age of Pulp Fiction!

Fred Duckworth is working to reintroduce Stories From the Golden Age, a line of 80 books and multi-cast, unabridged audio books, featuring 153 stories written by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and 1940s, using his own and any of the 15 pen names he used. To view the trailer of "Spy Killer" click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpqUD5tiTZo&feature=youtu.be

Books To Strengthen Your Marriage

There are many wonderful books out there with steps and tips on how to improve, enhance and keep the freshness and beauty of your marriage alive. Gary Chapman writes The 5 Languages of Love, a book that seeks to unlock the secrets of what makes a marriage happy and what makes it work. His main point is that unhappiness comes from the speaking of a variety of love languages that get crossed in the works. For example, words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch are all different languages identified in the book and explained, so that people can understand what their spouses are saying even when they aren't exactly saying it. This will help you decode the various kinds of communication, gestures, and languages present in a marriage and when you become savvy about all of them, it will overall improve your relationship.

The 7 Principles for Making a Marriage Work is a book by John Gottman who discusses the various things that form an emotionally intelligent couple. By using some signs of a troubled marriage as well as many studies conducted in his love labs, he disproves many divorce myths and demonstrates problems with clear examples that can help you relate to the situation. Including many checklists and quizzes, this is an interactive way to learn about marriage and the various ways of communication.

Emerson Eggerichs writes Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires, the Respect He Desperately Needs. Using biblical research as well as some psychological founding, this author works an argument that emphasizes the importance of unconditional love and respect for one another so that people can really enjoy the benefits of marriage as expected by the heavens. Basically he urges that the communication code between married peoples be cracked so that there as understood grounding between the two and a shared communicative bond. This is a great book for getting closer to your spouse and learning the basics of communication.

Haywood Smith writes The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law, a book written by a Southern woman about mother-in-laws all over the world. With a humorous style, she captures the spirit of mothers in law and packs it rich with advice and sayings and observations that make it a great gift for a newlywed or for someone's mother as they watch their child embark into the world of marriage. Though a more humorous and light hearted book, it might contain some things that can create a strong bond between a mother and the person her child marries.

Elizabeth Gilbert's book Committed, Is all about an author who debates whether or not to marry her boyfriend and thus studies the evolution of marriage. Though there is not much of a story, it does have a strong voice as well as some observations of marriage in other cultures that can enhance the perspective of a person seeking to begin a journey of wedded bliss and happiness. Also, she uses personal stories of her mother and grandmother, which help cast light on some of the ways in which marriage has changed over the years in a variety of ways, particularly in regards to women.

Beaver Street by Robert Rosen: Entertaining and Insightful

Have you ever wondered how the porn industry grosses more than $10 Billion a year? Do you want to know how the incredible Hulk, X-man and Spider-Man were behind it? Robert Rosen's Beaver Street- A history of Modern pornography will provide answer to all your questions. Rosen unveils all the secrets of the lucrative, politically harassed porn industry in his book. He was in the gutters of porn industry for sixteen years and witnessed all the ups and downs of the industry, from its phone sex age to the Traci Lord's scandal, to Reagan's anti-obscenity campaign to the free internet porn that puts the business of men's magazine at risk. Beaver Street is both entertaining and insightful.

Robert Rosen gained international recognition with Nowhere Man, the biography of Lennon's last days. He had spent around twenty years as a copywriter, editor, publisher and photographer in the pornography industry. He worked for the adult magazine High Society that invented phone sex. He had initiated the latest phase in the historical association of sex, money and technology. The end of dial a porn would be the beginning of the free pornography book in the internet.

In Beaver Street, Robert Rosen gives a glimpse of the infamous Traci Lords Scandal. In the history of porn, the intervening years are the most turbulent and chaotic. Rosen was there at the core of its dark hour- Traci Lord's scandal. Traci Lords, the former child porn star's entire pornographic works from the age fifteen to eighteen became illegal. The resulting moral and legal crusades would see Rosen and hundreds of his colleagues staring prison. However, Rosen gives a reply in his book Beaver Street. Rosen's critique is rooted on the question exploitation. He explains that Traci Lord had agreed that she used a fake birth certificate to get a passport and used that passport to obtain a fake driver's license. Both identification pieces prove that she was of legal age, when she worked in the porn industry. Rosen's Beaver Street offers a vivid glimpse at the other side of the coin.

Rosen' Beaver Street comprises of the picture of normal professionals, who try to make ends meet in odd circumstances. His book explains how numerous journalists, publishers and photographers are expected to score a living beneath the aggressive inquiry of the FBI and criticisms by feminists like Andrea Dworkin.

Beaver Street also describes about an exceptional American workplace which is full of cynics, drug addicts, perverts and tyrants. He explains how the owners are getting richer, while he and his colleagues work hard to meet the demands of ensuring millions who want something new every week to masturbate. Beaver Street has more entertaining and valuable information that elevates its level more than the average porn journal. Rosen unveils the masks of the porn profiteers and explains how some unbelievable events have rocked his entire career. He says that he has written this book, as he wanted to understand the entire psychic effect of having spent 16 years in XXX.