Results 261 to 270 of 277 | « previous | next »
- Erebus : the story of a ship / by Palin, Michael,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."Intrepid voyager, writer and comedian Michael Palin follows the trail of two expeditions made by the Royal Navy's HMS Erebus to opposite ends of the globe, reliving the voyages and investigating the ship itself, lost on the final Franklin expedition and discovered with the help of Inuit knowledge in 2014. The story of a ship begins after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, when Great Britain had more bomb ships than it had enemies. The solid, reinforced hulls of HMS Erebus, and another bomb ship, HMS Terror, made them suitable for discovering what lay at the coldest ends of the earth. In 1839, Erebus was chosen as the flagship of an expedition to penetrate south to explore Antarctica. Under the leadership of the charismatic James Clark Ross, she and HMS Terror sailed further south than anyone had been before. But Antarctica never captured the national imagination; what the British navy needed now was confirmation of its superiority by making the discovery, once and for all, of a route through the North-West Passage. Chosen to lead the mission was Sir John Franklin, at 59 someone many considered too old for such a hazardous journey. Nevertheless, he and his men confidently sailed away down the Thames in April 1845. Provisioned for three winters in the Arctic, Erebus and Terror and the 129 men of the Franklin expedition were seen heading west by two whalers in late July. No one ever saw them again. Over the years there were many attempts to discover what might have happened--and eventually the first bodies were discovered in shallow graves, confirming that it had been the dreadful fate of the explorers to die of hunger and scurvy as they abandoned the ships in the ice. For generations, the mystery of what had happened to the ships endured. Then, on September 9th, 2014, came the almost unbelievable news: HMS Erebus had been discovered thirty feet below the Arctic waters, by a Parks Canada exploration ship. Palin looks at the Erebus story through the different motives of the two expeditions, one scientific and successful, the other nationalistic and disastrous. He examines the past by means of the extensive historical record and travels in the present day to those places where there is still an echo of Erebus herself, from the dockyard where she was built, to Tasmania where the Antarctic voyage began and the Falkland Islands, then on to the Canadian Arctic, to get a sense of what the conditions must have been like for the starving, stumbling sailors as they abandoned their ships to the ice. And of course the story has a future. It lies ten metres down in the waters of Nunavut's Queen Maud Gulf, where many secrets wait to be revealed."--
- Subjects: Erebus (Ship); Scientific expeditions;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- A house in the sky : a memoir / by Lindhout, Amanda.; Corbett, Sara.;
Includes bibliographical references."The spectacularly dramatic memoir of a woman whose curiosity about the world led her from rural Canada to imperiled and dangerous countries on every continent, and then into fifteen months of harrowing captivity in Somalia--a story of courage, resilience, and extraordinary grace.At the age of eighteen, Amanda Lindhout moved from her hardscrabble Alberta hometown to the big city--Calgary--and worked as a cocktail waitress, saving her tips so she could travel the globe. As a child, she escaped a violent household by paging through National Geographic and imagining herself in its exotic locales. Now she would see those places for real. She backpacked through Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India, and emboldened by each experience, went on to travel solo across Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. In war-ridden Afghanistan and Iraq she carved out a fledgling career as a TV reporter. And then, in August 2008, she traveled to Mogadishu, Somalia--"the most dangerous place on earth"--to report on the fighting there. On her fourth day in the country, she and her photojournalist companion were abducted. An astoundingly intimate and harrowing account of Lindhout's fifteen months as a captive, A House in the Sky illuminates the psychology, motivations, and desperate extremism of her young guards and the men in charge of them. She is kept in chains, nearly starved, and subjected to unthinkable abuse. She survives by imagining herself in a "house in the sky," looking down at the woman shackled below, and finding strength and hope in the power of her own mind. Lindhout's decision, upon her release, to counter the violence she endured by founding an organization to help the Somali people rebuild their country through education is a wrenching testament to the capacity of the human spirit and an astonishing portrait of the power of compassion and forgiveness"--Provided by publisher.
- Subjects: Lindhout, Amanda.; Hostages; Journalists;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 2
-
unAPI
- Beneath dark waters : the legacy of the Empress of Ireland shipwreck / by Lazarus, Eve,author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."On May 28, 1914, the RMS Empress of Ireland began her 192nd trip across the Atlantic from Quebec City, Canada, en route to Liverpool, England, carrying 1,057 passengers and a crew of 420. In the early hours of May 29, fog descended on the St. Lawrence River, and the ocean liner was rammed by the Storstad, a Norwegian coal ship. In the fourteen minutes it took for the Empress of Ireland to sink, there was time to launch only four of the forty lifeboats, and rather than women and children first, it was everyone for themselves. Over a thousand people died that night, claiming the lives of more passengers than either the Titanic or the Lusitania, and the tragedy stands as the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian history. Investigative journalist and author Eve Lazarus draws on a trove of historical documents, including small-town newspaper reports, the Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry, and first-hand accounts passed down through personal letters and family lore, to tell the story of the wreck and its aftermath through the eyes of the Canadian survivors. Through these records, as well as interviews with experts and descendants of the passengers, Lazarus recounts the story from both a Canadian and a Norwegian perspective and investigates why many of the stories regurgitated in newspapers and books for over a hundred years are wrong. The result is an absorbing and utterly stirring narrative that uncovers stories of heroism and sacrifice, human endurance, and modern-day shipwreck hunters. Beneath Dark Waters is an epic narrative that restores the Empress of Ireland--largely forgotten in the shadow of the Titanic disaster--as well as its survivors and victims to their rightful place in maritime history."--
- Subjects: Empress of Ireland (Steamship); Shipwrecks;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- The heart of a superfan : a memoir of grit, love, family, and basketball / by Bhatia, Nav,1951-author.; Baluja, Tamara,author.;
"The Raptors' story is an underdog story--and the same is true for their greatest superfan. This memoir offers a courtside view into the extraordinary life of Nav Bhatia. You know him as the Raptors Superfan, but Nav Bhatia's story is bigger than basketball. Nav immigrated to Canada from India, where he had been persecuted for his religion, only to face a host of new challenges. Life as a new immigrant was gruelling and grey ... and then, a new basketball team came to town. As Nav cheered on the Raptors at game after game, as they lost, as they won, on the good days and the bad, he discovered solace and community in the greatest game on Earth, formed indelible bonds with many of the best players the sport has ever known, and solidified his own place in the Basketball Hall of Fame. In this memoir, Nav shares his incredible personal story of triumphing over adversity, and imparts the lessons that propelled him to success in all facets of life: as an entrepreneur, movie producer, humanitarian, son, father and husband, and the Raptors' most famous devotee. And woven throughout the book are intimate, colourful behind-the-scenes stories about the Raptors--from their very first game in 1995 to their 2019 Championship win, and beyond--that only the Superfan could know. This is a book about loyalty, perseverance and the power of sports to unite us across differences--and, most of all, about how following your passions can lead you to the most extraordinary places."--
- Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Bhatia, Nav, 1951-; Toronto Raptors (Basketball team); Basketball fans; East Indians; Immigrants;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- The 14th colony [sound recording] / by Berry, Steve,1955-author.; Brick, Scott,narrator.; Macmillan Audio (Firm),publisher.;
Read by Scott Brick."What happens if both the president and vice-president-elect die before taking the oath of office? The answer is far from certain--in fact, what follows would be nothing short of total political chaos. Shot down over Siberia, ex-Justice Department agent Cotton Malone is forced into a fight for survival against Aleksandr Zorin, a man whose loyalty to the former Soviet Union has festered for decades into an intense hatred of the United States. Before escaping, Malone learns that Zorin and another ex-KGB officer, this one a sleeper still embedded in the West, are headed overseas to Washington D.C. Inauguration Day--noon on January 20th--is only hours away. A flaw in the Constitution, and an even more flawed presidential succession act, have opened the door to disaster and Zorin intends to exploit both weaknesses to their fullest. Armed with a weapon leftover from the Cold War, one long thought to be just a myth, Zorin plans to attack. He's aided by a shocking secret hidden in the archives of America's oldest fraternal organization--the Society of Cincinnati--a group that once lent out its military savvy to presidents, including helping to formulate three invasion plans of what was intended to be America's 14th colony--Canada. In a race against the clock that starts in the frozen extremes of Russia and ultimately ends at the White House itself, Malone must not only battle Zorin, he must also confront a crippling fear that he's long denied, but which now jeopardizes everything. Steve Berry's trademark mix of history and speculation is all here in this provocative new thriller"--Provided by publisher.
- Subjects: Audiobooks.; Political fiction.; Spy stories.; Suspense fiction.; Malone, Cotton (Fictitious character); National security; Presidents; Secret societies; Targeted killing;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- Don Cherry's hockey greats & more. by Cherry, Don,1934-author.;
"Broadcasting icon Don Cherry is back to give fans more of what they want: behind-the-scenes access to hockey's greatest heroes. For the last sixty years, Don Cherry has lived and breathed hockey--and his memories of the sport's biggest stars are just as colorful as his wardrobe. Before "Coach's Corner," Don Cherry hosted Grapevine TV, where he interviewed the biggest names in sports. During his decade on the show, not a single player turned him down for an interview, and in this new book, readers will reap the benefits of that unparalleled insider access. Fans got a taste of Don's Grapevine days in his last book, but Don Cherry's Hockey Greats and More dives even deeper into the world of sports, with more unforgettable and revealing interviews with the most legendary players. Travel with Don to hear Guy Lafleur's response to his most famous goal, Don's take on coaching Phil Esposito through a rough year, and what Cam Neely thinks of the shot that ended his career. Meet Pat Burns and Joe Crozier up close and personal; hockey, baseball and boxing's all-time greats; and even a jockey or two. This is Don Cherry in all his hilarious and frank glory, spinning his yarns with the best of them."--
- Subjects: Biographies.; Cherry, Don, 1934-; National Hockey League; Grapevine (Television program); Hockey coaches; Hockey players; Hockey; Sportscasters;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- Superfan : how pop culture broke my heart : a memoir / by Lee, Jen Sookfong,author.;
Includes bibliographical references."A memoir in pieces that uses one woman's life-long obsession with pop culture as a lens to explore family, grief, the power of female rage, Asian fetish, and what it's cost her to resist the trap of being a "good Chinese girl." For most of Jen Sookfong Lee's life, pop culture was an escape from family tragedy and a means of fitting in with the larger culture around her. Anne of Green Gables assured her that, despite losing her father at the age of twelve, one day she might still have the loving family of her dreams, and Princess Diana was proof that maybe there was more to being a good girl after all. And yet as Jen grew up, she began to recognize the ways in which pop culture was not made for someone like her-the child of Chinese immigrant parents who looked for safety in the invisibility afforded by embracing Model Minority myths. Ranging from the rise of Gwyneth Paltrow, the father-figure familiarity of Bob Ross, and the surprising maternal legacy of the Kardashians, to the long shadow cast by The Joy Luck Club, Jen uses pop culture icons to understand her emotionally fraught upbringing. She also dissects how pop culture created both unrealistic ideals and harmful stereotypes that would devastate her as she struggled to carve out her own path as an Asian woman, single mother, and writer. With great wit, bracing honesty, and a deep appreciation for the ways culture shapes us, Jen draws direct lines between the spectacle of the popular, the intimacy of our personal bonds, and the social foundations of our collective obsessions."--
- Subjects: Biographies.; Autobiographies.; Personal narratives.; Lee, Jen Sookfong.; Asians in mass media.; Model minority stereotype; Popular culture; Stereotypes (Social psychology) in mass media.; Women authors; Authors, Canadian (English); Chinese Canadian women; Chinese Canadians; Popular culture;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- For the glory : Olympic legend Eric Liddell's journey of faith and survival / by Hamilton, Duncan(Sportswriter),author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."The untold and inspiring story of Eric Liddell, hero of Chariots of Fire, from his Olympic victory to his missionary work in China to his last, brave days in a Japanese work camp during WWII. Most people will know Eric Liddell as an Olympic gold medalist and a focal character in Chariots of Fire. Famously, the Scot would not run on Sunday, leading to ridicule and, some might say, his teammate winning the 100 metres in the 1924 Paris Olympics. But for Liddell, running was always second to his true calling, his faith. After surprisingly winning the 400-metre gold in Paris, he dedicated himself to missionary work. He and his family settled in one of the poorest provinces in China. When he saw war with Japan on the horizon, Liddell put his children and pregnant wife on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind, his conscience compelling him to remain amongst the desperate Chinese. Liddell was eventually interned at a Japanese work camp, where he became the moral centre of an unbearable world. He was the hardest worker, he counselled many of the other prisoners, he often gave up his own meagre portion of meals, and he organized games for the children. He even raced again. But for his ailing, malnourished body, it soon proved too much. In the spirit of The Boys in the Boat and Unbroken, For the Glory is both a compelling narrative of athletic heroism and a gripping story of faith in the darkest circumstances."--
- Subjects: Biographies.; Liddell, Eric, 1902-1945.; Runners (Sports); Missionaries; Missionaries;
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- Steven Universe [videorecording] : the movie / by Estelle(Estelle Bennett),voice actor.; Callison, Zach,1997-voice actor.; Johnston, Joe,1950-film director.; Magno, Deedee,voice actor.; Morris, Kat,television director.; Sugar, Rebecca,1987-television director,screenwriter.; Cartoon Network (Television network),production company,broadcaster.; Warner Home Video (Firm),distributor.;
Zach Callison, Deedee Magno, Estelle.Steven Universe is set in Beach City on the American East Coast, where the four Crystal Gems live in an ancient beachside temple, protecting the world from evil. As immortal alien warriors, they project female humanoid forms from magical gems that are the core of their being. The Crystal Gems are Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl and Steven, a young half-human, half-Gem boy who inherited the gem of his mother Rose Quartz, the former leader of the Crystal Gems. As Steven tries to figure out his powers, he spends his days with his human father Greg, his friend Connie or the other Gems, whether to help them save the world or just to hang out. He explores the abilities passed down to him by his mother, which include fusion - the ability of two Gems to temporarily merge their identities and bodies to form a distinct new personality.Canadian Home Video Rating: PG.DVD ; widescreen presentation ; Dolby Digital 2.0.
- Subjects: Action and adventure television programs.; Children's television programs.; Animated television programs.; Video recordings for the hearing impaired.; Gems; Heroes; Human-alien encounters; Magic;
- For private home use only.
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
- Arthur the king [videorecording] / by Brandt, Michael,1968-screenwriter.; Canton, Mark,film producer.; Emmanuel, Nathalie,1989-actor.; Grylls, Bear,actor.; Guilfoyle, Paul,actor.; Jones, Simon Cellan,film director.; Levinson, Stephen,film producer.; Liu, Simu,1989-actor.; Rylance, Juliet,actor.; Solomon, Courtney,1971-film producer.; Suliman, Ali,actor.; Tooley, Tessa,film producer.; Tooley, Tucker,film producer.; Wahlberg, Mark,1971-film producer,actor.; motion picture adaptation of (work):Lindnord, Mikael.Arthur.; Canton Entertainment,production company.; Entertainment One (Firm : Canada),production company.; Lions Gate Films (Santa Monica, Calif.),publisher.; Municipal Pictures,production company.; Tucker Tooley Entertainment (Firm),production company.;
Director of photography, Jacques Jouffret ; edited by Gary D. Roach ; music by Kevin Matley.Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ali Suliman, Bear Grylls, Paul Guilfoyle.Over the course of ten days and 435 miles, an unbreakable bond is forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light and a scrappy street dog companion dubbed Arthur. Based on an incredible true story, ARTHUR THE KING follows Light, desperate for one last chance to win, as he convinces a sponsor to back him and a team of athletes for the Adventure Racing World Championship in the Dominican Republic. As the team is pushed to their outer limits of endurance in the race, Arthur redefines what victory, loyalty and friendship truly mean.Canadian Home Video Rating: PG.MPAA rating: PG-13; for some strong language.Described video for the blind and visually impaired.Subtitled for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (SDH).DVD ; wide screen presentation ; Dolby Digital 5.1.
- Subjects: Video recordings for people with visual disabilities.; Video recordings for the hearing impaired.; Fiction films.; Feature films.; Animal films.; Adventure racing; Dogs; Extreme sports; Human-animal relationships; Racers (Persons);
- For private home use only.
- Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
-
unAPI
Results 261 to 270 of 277 | « previous | next »