Books
The Luminous Qur’an : Waleed Bleyhesh al-Amri
A faithful rendition, annotated translation of the first three suras of the Message of God
No translator will ever embark on such a momentous project as translating the Qur’an, without realizing the magnitude of his undertaking, his position in the history of humanity viz-a-viz their most pressing need for Divine guidance, and where to make a well-calculated stand in the ceaseless flow of previous and concurrent translations of the Qur’an.
By translating the untranslatable Qur’an we are at once engaging in an impossible mission that we fully realise is not going to be carried out to a satisfactory completion even before we set about it! But this needs not to hold us back from engaging in a quest to explore the limits of the “translatability” of the Qur’an and the possibility of compensating for the degrees of loss, great as they are.
What one can hope for is to get across the purport of the Qur’anic message so that people can pay heed to it. This is a legitimate attempt indeed. The current translation:
- Represents a safe, mainstream yet non-restrictive understanding of the Message of the Grand Qur’an.
- Relies on the most authentic time-honoured sources of tafsÊr and Hadith.
- The introduction to the translation provides a broad coverage of essential topics for those seeking to read the Qur’an in Arabic and in translation.
- This translation is marked by its “faithfulness”. It is neither too literal nor too free.
- Each sura is preceded by a brief introduction, which is indispensable for anyone who wants to unlock some of the meaning potential of the sura.
- Every care was taken to make each aya rendition read as a composite whole, i.e. understood independently of its notes.
- Uses extensive annotations to provide a holistic reading experience.•Highlights and underlines the connectivity and thematic unity of the suras and ayas.
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Mustard Seed Faith : Bethanee R. Syversen
A Journey Through Infertility, Miscarriage, Adoption, and Faith
Bethanee R. Syversen shares her personal journey into motherhood and how she experienced the ultimate tests of faith as a wife and mother.
Her book covers her experiences while starting a big family with her husband, Jason, and how God worked in mysterious ways so that the couple could be the parents of many God-loving children—something both of them always wanted even before they met in church.
Mustard Seed Faith shares with readers the different kinds of struggles a hopeful mother faces, namely infertility, miscarriages, the pain of loss, and hope. Bethanee offers words of encouragement and advice to people who may be experiencing similar situations from different sides, particularly about how words from concerned friends can be hurtful despite their good intentions.
“This was my anchor: knowing that I will find God every single time I seek Him,” says the author as she and her husband had barely started that big family they’ve always wanted. “In all the struggles and hardships, I will find God if I daily get on my knees and seek Him. And He promises that we will find Him. God does not promise to take away our problems or give us a struggle-free life, but He promises to be found and to be present with us.”
In the span of a decade, Bethanee and Jason successfully have four biological children and proceed with trying adoption. The pain remains the same, though, whether it’s a miscarriage or a prospective adoption that doesn’t push through. She also talks about how her heart breaks for the many children who continue being denied a loving family due to flaws in the system (both domestic and international), and she continues praying for expectant mothers who have their own life struggles which end in them planning an abortion or making other questionable decisions.
“Those years of infertility and miscarriages were some of the darkest years of my life. The loss felt unbearable at times,” she shares. “However, I’m so very grateful for what I learned about myself. I learned that I am a survivor. I am dedicated. I am consistent. I am driven. And I am a fighter. And I am thankful that God was with me all along the way helping me through all of the loss and in the process, helping me learn how to handle difficult situations.”
After a lot of heartbreak and endless tests of their faith, the author and her husband are blessed by God with six amazing children, supportive friends, an ever-loving family, and the chance to be a blessing to others. While scarred and drained of many tears, Bethanee’s faith in the Lord grows as strong as her children with each passing day; and through her book, she hopes that readers will allow Him to show them their own purpose and write their story to glorify His Kingdom.
Protection: Sex, Revenge & Romance : Ken Ross
While you may think this book is all about sex, and there sure is a lot of that, on a deeper level it is about the human condition. All of that is wrapped in a tawdry little tale that follows a man and three sisters who go on an adventure. There’s plenty of sex, some murder, and weird family relationships to explore. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it changes direction and takes you somewhere else.
This book explores the concepts of randomness, serendipity, and pure chance, and how sometimes all of those elements come together to fashion a new existence, and a new understanding.
Protection highlights the author’s ability to take the mundane and elevate it to much more.
Highly recommended for something a little unusual, and in fact, with this book, you can’t judge a book by its cover or title.
Jesse & The Thinkers, ANN: Irresistible Spirit, A Cross of Crocuses, Wasted Pain and An Old Affair by Ken Ross are also on Whizbuzz Books.
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Hungry Hill : K.J. Sargeant
The derelict farm Hungry Hill has always been viewed as something of a local legend amongst the people in the towns and villages surrounding it. They say it’s got an appetite – hence the name – a spot where unexplainable things happen and people, young girls in particular, go missing. Nothing official has ever been found amiss in the area, but Erin and her boyfriend should have heeded the warnings, as they find themselves at the mercy of the farm’s reclusive owner and his twisted nephew, Dominic.
Meanwhile, Detective Grace Buchanan is haunted by nightmares that feel like memories. Her time on the Edinburgh metropolitan has almost entirely been defined by death, twisted sights that the human mind can’t so easily compartmentalize and rationalise. So, when she’s called in to aid with the disappearance of Erin, and the many others who have vanished around Hungry Hill, she assumes the worst. Still, even those pessimistic preconceptions aren’t enough to prepare her for the true horror lurking in plain sight on that derelict farm.
As Grace attempts to find some semblance of justice in a situation that’s increasingly spiralling out of control and her nightmares become a reality, she finds herself going to extreme measures and warring with the darkness that rages inside her.
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The Eagle Legacy : Mark D Richardson
A successful solicitor is found murdered in the picturesque village of Mittand Burrow. A village like any other quaint English Parish, where everybody knew your business and with secrets hidden in gossip and hearsay. A place where petty pilfering and poaching were the worst of crimes, until now. The Village is about to become the epicentre of a global catastrophe, and will never be the same again.
Jack Case of LARA – Land Air Reconnaissance Agency – a ghost task force, is assigned to investigate after a sinister discovery as to the cause of death is revealed and uncovers a plot that threatens to annihilate the very fabric of the modern world.
An ancient force defeated for what was hoped the third and final time, is again building forces ready to devastate the global economy and millions of lives as they attempt to resurrect a new hell on earth.
What dark secret has the sleepy village been hiding for 50 years?
Who is writing invitations to certain death?
Why is the widow being hunted?
And what ancient horrors are hidden in a secret location somewhere in Europe?
In a race against time, Jack must discover all the answers as he travels the Northern Hemisphere with the help of misfits and Mavericks to find the source of the evil and attempt to save the world.
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My Name is Bacci Bogie: Frequent Flyer Extraordinaire : Sandra Glosser
His human-like antics drew people to him where ever he went. People stood in line for his autograph as he performed funny tricks.
Bacci traveled over 500,000 air miles as my ‘jet pet’ experiencing life in a very unique way. His hometown was Aspen, Colorado where he co-hosted my local television show for many years. It was not unusual when we walked through town, for people to say hello to him by name. Where ever he went, he was a magnet for people to gather asking unending questions about his life.
I wrote Bacci’s memoirs from his point of view and in his voice. He was inspirational by nature and approached life with possibility thinking. Bacci was a multi-dimensional dog as he interacted with police officers across the country. His desire to give back to society, by becoming involved in community service with high-risk teens and senior citizens, was admirable.
The book is inspirational and filled with humor. Most of all, the story is an entertaining testament to the multi-faceted richness that pets can bring to human life.
The following is one of the reviews that is posted on Amazon: 5.0 out of 5 stars…
“A must-read for all of those who have loved and lost their best friend. Bacci Bogie truly captures life from his unique viewpoint. So many of Bacci’s adventures reminded me of the fun, the awkward, the frustrating and the even scary moments I have experienced with my own dogs. It was a really fun read.”
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The Life and Dreams of Effie Farraday : Lynn Williams
Effie Farraday was quite content living at Rawlings with her Aunt Constance. Over the years she’s become used to her inexplicable recurring dreams, and she somehow endures the terrifying nightmares of an old ventriloquist’s dummy.
After all, she always has her impetuous best friend Mace to keep her sane – she can trust him…… However when Effie is visited by the apparition of a woman who tries to murder her, it is anything BUT a dream, and she is immediately left fearing for her life.
Effie finds she must flee her beloved home, and embark on a journey across a perilous land, steeped in folklore. Finally, she reaches an idyllic little village, where all her troubles seem to melt away, and she is soon filled with a strange, blissful contentment. But why do all the villagers stare at her so, and what is being kept from her?
After a sinister encounter in the local church, the truth is finally revealed, and Effie has no choice but to leave the man and the village she loves.
Somethings has changed whilst Effie’s been away, including her friend Mace….but it’s only when she reaches Rawlings that events really take a turn for the worse. When a series of closely guarded secrets are made known to her, she desperately tries to digest the horrid truth, whilst teetering on the brink of insanity. As parts of the puzzle begin to slot into place, Effie believes someone close to her is in grave danger….but can she save them….will everything turn out alright, or will her life veer totally in the wrong direction?
This paranormal novel is the first in “The Effie Farraday Trilogy”. Read The Continuing Saga of Effie Farraday, and The Loves and Sorrows of Effie Farraday to discover where Effie’s life will ultimately lead her.
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The Sign : Monokuro Yun
A fantastical story of a world with no visible borderline between good and evil.
In a world where magic is common, people’s destinies are something they can only follow, with no chance of changing them. However, one girl decides that her life is not something others should own.
Medani, a young ward of a royal family, runs away from her escort only to meet a half-demon boy named Siris. Together with a shapeshifter and a poor pilferer, the outcast princess faces many obstacles in order to finally regain freedom.
Along the way, she decides to trust even non-human comrades. However, what she doesn’t know is that all the secrets those strange creatures keep will bring a chain of terrific events that endanger not only the life of the girl but throw the whole world into chaos.
Logical to its core, The Sign explores the logic that holds everything in place. Everything that seems off and every event that seems too convenient takes on a different meaning as readers look a little deeper.
Through the characters’ journeys, The Truth is eventually uncovered. But, it’s hard to say whether that Truth is better than the Lies that keep this world together…
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Dark Wolf’s Awakening : Ryan Evans
It has been thousands of years since Beast-Kind were united under one banner. The empire encompasses most of the known world, driving out or enslaving the lesser races without mercy. In a state of constant war and conquest, they have perfected the art of battle.
For commoner wolf-kind, Valian, being accepted and trained in a noble house’s army was a dream come true. Without wealth or a family, it was his best shot at attaining honor and glory. Until fate intervened.
When, on his graduation day, Valian discovers he’s descended from an ancient and long-thought extinct line, everything changes. Now, he’ll have to come to terms with his newfound strength while joining a world he has never known. If the threat of his fellow beast-kind wasn’t enough, a new danger has awoken on the empire’s eastern border.
If Valian doesn’t rise to the occasion, more than just his own life may be lost.
Fans of Throne of Glass and Sword of Truth will enjoy the dynamic combination of magic and action in Evans’ new series, Alpha Rising. “Dark Wolf’s Awakening” is the debut novel in the fast-paced epic fantasy series that introduces readers to a savage world ruled by shapeshifters and the beast within.
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Penta Ka Wa: The Dark Gift : Trevor Jones
Penta was a Horseman of great renown, some might even say he was legendary. Now in his retiring years, he is ready to watch the setting sun from the porch with his wife of many decades. But when unexpected violence takes her and everything from Penta, he must learn how to survive as an unwilling vampire.
Set in the fantastical world of Kinthur, filled with magic and heroes, Penta’s journey will take him across strange lands and encounters with creatures of darkness and light. He must now find a balance between the man he once was and the growing darkness that now lives within him calling for blood and power.
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