Against All Odds The Most Amazing True Life Story You Ll Ever Read
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It had been years since I had seen any of the children with whom I had grown up. When I left the children's home, I promised myself that I would have nothing to do with them, I was sure that my only chance of living a good life would be to put the past behind me, even though that meant saying goodbye to some of the people I loved the most - as well as the ones I hated...it turned out that six of us had died, several by slow suicide in the form of heroin abuse, and at least two by faster means. When two police officers arrived out of the blue at Paul Connolly's door, he learned the shocking news that, out of the eight children with whom he shared a dormitory in care, only two were still alive. The revelation unearthed painful memories of a childhood that, until this point, Paul had tried desperately to put behind him. Abandoned at two weeks old, Paul came of age in the infamous St Leonards's Children's Home in East London. The children there were routinely abused, often over the course of many years. All were underfed and unloved and told that they would amount to nothing. Angry and frustrated, Paul channelled his rage into boxing - but when an accident shattered his ambition to turn professional, he found his true calling and became a successful trainer, even working as a consultant on the pilot of a top model's fitness video. Paul has finally found peace and fulfilment beyond anyhing he could have imagined all those years ago. He has found happiness with his wife and children and now helps to heal broken bodies, build confidence and transform lives - but he will never forget his past and the unnecessary victims of broken society...
Beating the Odds - From shocking childhood abuse to the embrace of a loving family, one man's true story of courage and redemption by Paul Connolly Pdf
'She'd done more to belittle, undermine and scar me, with her ten years of scorn and hatred, than Starling with his brutal physical batterings or any of the others with their attempts at forced sexual contact. But no-one gets jailed for what they say, even when it amounts to deliberate mental torture...'As Paul Connolly struggled to leave behind his painful, humiliating childhood in the notorious St Leonard's children's home, the ghosts of his past would not let go. The paedophiles and sadists had damaged so many kids. Some had died, from suicide or heroin. Others, like Paul, had emerged, battered and illiterate, to try to find a place in the world. When a fall from a roof shattered his boxing ambitions, he survived in a brutal underworld of routine violence, before eventually building a career as a celebrity fitness trainer, working with the stars of fashion and film.After Against All Odds became a surprise bestseller, everything changed for Paul. He found himself speaking at the House of Lords, appearing on TV and getting involved in projects with abused kids and illiterate adults. But a rare heart infection almost killed him, and the old demons still haunted him.Four years later, Paul has made a new world for himself, centred on his young family and a successful training business that mends broken bodies, builds confidence and changes lives for the better. His story is a remarkable tale of endurance and survival - vivid, disturbing, but ultimately uplifting, as the beaten child who was once told 'You're rubbish; you'll never be worth a thing' becomes a man with the heart to love, live and embrace the future.
When they both get caught in a storm sewer, Jeff risks his life to gain the respect of his older brother. Three teenagers are trapped in an Edmonton storm sewer when a thunderstorm hits. The heroism of one boy - a special ed student - saves them all from drowning. Reading level: grade 3.4; Lexile 610 HL; Interest level: Grades 6-10. HIP Senior novels have been created for teenagers (grade 7 to senior high school) who read at a grade-3 to grade-4 level. Characters are adolescents; plots involve high action and teenage problems; many books have a real-life base.
With his stunning debut novel, She's Come Undone, Wally Lamb won the adulation of critics and readers with his mesmerizing tale of one woman's painful yet triumphant journey of self-discovery. Now, this brilliantly talented writer returns with I Know This Much Is True, a heartbreaking and poignant multigenerational saga of the reproductive bonds of destruction and the powerful force of forgiveness. A masterpiece that breathtakingly tells a story of alienation and connection, power and abuse, devastation and renewal--this novel is a contemporary retelling of an ancient Hindu myth. A proud king must confront his demons to achieve salvation. Change yourself, the myth instructs, and you will inhabit a renovated world. When you're the same brother of a schizophrenic identical twin, the tricky thing about saving yourself is the blood it leaves on your bands--the little inconvenience of the look-alike corpse at your feet. And if you're into both survival of the fittest and being your brother's keeper--if you've promised your dying mother--then say so long to sleep and hello to the middle of the night. Grab a book or a beer. Get used to Letterman's gap-toothed smile of the absurd, or the view of the bedroom ceiling, or the influence of random selection. Take it from a godless insomniac. Take it from the uncrazy twin--the guy who beat the biochemical rap. Dominick Birdsey's entire life has been compromised and constricted by anger and fear, by the paranoid schizophrenic twin brother he both deeply loves and resents, and by the past they shared with their adoptive father, Ray, a spit-and-polish ex-Navy man (the five-foot-six-inch sleeping giant who snoozed upstairs weekdays in the spare room and built submarines at night), and their long-suffering mother, Concettina, a timid woman with a harelip that made her shy and self-conscious: She holds a loose fist to her face to cover her defective mouth--her perpetual apology to the world for a birth defect over which she'd had no control. Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities: the seemingly strong and protective yet fearful Dominick, his mother's watchful "monkey"; and the seemingly weak and sweet yet noble Thomas, his mother's gentle "bunny." From childhood, Dominick fights for both separation and wholeness--and ultimately self-protection--in a house of fear dominated by Ray, a bully who abuses his power over these stepsons whose biological father is a mystery. I was still afraid of his anger but saw how he punished weakness--pounced on it. Out of self-preservation I hid my fear, Dominick confesses. As for Thomas, he just never knew how to play defense. He just didn't get it. But Dominick's talent for survival comes at an enormous cost, including the breakup of his marriage to the warm, beautiful Dessa, whom he still loves. And it will be put to the ultimate test when Thomas, a Bible-spouting zealot, commits an unthinkable act that threatens the tenuous balance of both his and Dominick's lives. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself, and the sins of his ancestors--a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily 's Mount Etna, where his ambitious and vengefully proud grandfather and a namesake Domenico Tempesta, the sostegno del famiglia, was born. Each of the stories Ma told us about Papa reinforced the message that he was the boss, that he ruled the roost, that what he said went. Searching for answers, Dominick turns to the whispers of the dead, to the pages of his grandfather's handwritten memoir, The History of Domenico Onofrio Tempesta, a Great Man from Humble Beginnings. Rendered with touches of magic realism, Domenico's fablelike tale--in which monkeys enchant and religious statues weep--becomes the old man's confession--an unwitting legacy of contrition that reveals the truth's of Domenico's life, Dominick learns that power, wrongly used, defeats the oppressor as well as the oppressed, and now, picking through the humble shards of his deconstructed life, he will search for the courage and love to forgive, to expiate his and his ancestors' transgressions, and finally to rebuild himself beyond the haunted shadow of his twin. Set against the vivid panoply of twentieth-century America and filled with richly drawn, memorable characters, this deeply moving and thoroughly satisfying novel brings to light humanity's deepest needs and fears, our aloneness, our desire for love and acceptance, our struggle to survive at all costs. Joyous, mystical, and exquisitely written, I Know This Much Is True is an extraordinary reading experience that will leave no reader untouched.
When Siya Kolisi leads the Springboks out onto the field at the Rugby World Cup in September 2019, it will be the crowning glory of an incredible journey that began on the impoverished streets of Zwide, a township outside Port Elizabeth. As the first black South African to captain a Springbok rugby team, Kolisi's remarkable story is unique and deserves to be heard. His mother was a teenager when he was born. She left him in the care of his grandmother who brought him up until she died (in his arms) when Siya was twelve. He found love and acceptance playing junior rugby with the African Bombers club until his talent was spotted by the prestigious Grey High School who offered Siya a full scholarship that changed his life. He adapted well to the posh private school, but it was on the rugby field where he excelled. Siya was rewarded with a call-up the SA schools team and a contract to join the Western Province rugby union. Author Jeremy Daniel tracks Siya's journey from running wild on the streets of Zwide, through some crucial games in high school, into the Western Province rugby set-up and his fight to become Springbok captain. He goes deep inside the systems that identify junior talent, the characters who shaped his journey and the moments where he showed who he really was. Siya never forgot where he came from, and ultimately adopted his mother's other two children after she died when he was in high school. His life has not been without controversy, and his marriage to a fiery young white woman was a lightning rod for racial politics. But he is a shining beacon of hope for South Africa, he is massively popular and there is a huge appetite from the public to know about his life and to support him as Springbok captain.
Impossible Love by Craig Keener,Médine Moussounga Keener Pdf
Gripping True Story of War and Romance, Hope and Miracles When the odds are impossible, love goes to work. In this thrilling true-life story, readers follow the path of friendship that grows into a romance that spans continents and survives devastating hardship. Craig Keener, a respected white scholar, was cautious after a broken relationship. Médine, a well-educated African woman, met Craig through a campus ministry and the two became friends. Long after they parted for their respective worlds, Craig realized his love for her and began the arduous--and often supernatural--journey to be reunited. Médine faced terror and disease as a refugee in the war-torn Congo; Craig did not know most days if she was alive or dead. Their tender story of love beating the odds inspires readers to believe that God's own great love for each of us will always overcome.
In the new novel from the author of Emily, Alone and Henry, Himself, a middle-age couple goes all in for love at a Niagara Falls casino Stewart O'Nan's thirteenth novel is another wildly original, bittersweet gem like his celebrated Last Night at the Lobster. Valentine's weekend, Art and Marion Fowler flee their Cleveland suburb for Niagara Falls, desperate to recoup their losses. Jobless, with their home approaching foreclosure and their marriage on the brink of collapse, Art and Marion liquidate their savings account and book a bridal suite at the Falls' ritziest casino for a second honeymoon. While they sightsee like tourists during the day, at night they risk it all at the roulette wheel to fix their finances-and save their marriage. A tender yet honest exploration of faith, forgiveness and last chances, The Odds is a reminder that love, like life, is always a gamble.
The Revealing Portrait of an African American Success Story Before he was in his teens, Alfred Cave was already an orphan, a runaway, and a homeless person on the mean streets of New York. Five decades later, he would retire after heading the nation's largest supported work program, as well as his own successful federal contracting company. This amazing story is recounted in Against All Odds, a stirring account of Cave's surviving and thriving despite all life could throw at him. A wide-ranging yet intimate memoir, Against All Odds follows Cave beginning with his earliest recollections in a violently racist South. But the deep-seated attitudes there don't disappear when he escapes to the North and, later, the U.S. Army. Cave brings readers along for the ride as he rises to a Major, commanding two battalions and receiving a Bronze Star. It's a revealing glimpse into an ambitious African American soldier's unique experiences navigating the military's hesitantly integrated ranks, and the challenges of raising a family along the way. As he returns to the private sector, Cave continues to document an engrossing cast of characters - some endearing, others maddening - that readers won't soon forget.
Greg Livingstone has spent a lifetime planting churches in Muslim communities and can testify to the life-changing power of the gospel in even the most unpromising circumstances. This is his autobiography. Unwanted at birth and born out of wedlock no-one would have considered that Greg Livingstone would become a pioneer in missions to unreached Muslim peoples. You've Got Libya charts his journey and his adventures. This first-hand narrative is full of compelling humor and self-depreciating honesty as Livingstone travels all over the world proclaiming the Gospel. The result is a page turning tour de force that urges the reader to pursue God unreservedly and to join with Him in the adventure of pursuing the lost. Greg's burden for the millions of Muslims who had no gospel witness amongst them led to the launching of Frontiers, a mission agency focusing exclusively on church planting amongst Muslim communities. Today, Frontiers is a movement of more than 1,000 field workers in nearly 50 countries.
'Will inspire you never to dim your light.' - Katie Piper OBE The debut book in Katie Piper's UnSeen series looks at fashion model's Ellie Goldstein's astounding journey as she overcomes adversity and makes history by becoming the first supermodel with Down Syndrome to represent prestigious brands, such as Gucci and Adidas, in major campaigns around the world. When Ellie Goldstein was first diagnosed with Down Syndrome, her mother was soon told that her new-born would amount to nothing. For 21 years and counting, Ellie Goldstein has been defying the odds and overcoming every hardship thrown at her. Told she wouldn't walk, Ellie has danced on mainstages. Told she wouldn't learn, she has gained a college education. And told not to dream, Ellie has gone on to become the first model with Down Syndrome to be photographed for Gucci and continues to change the face of fashion from the inside out in countless international campaigns. Ellie's heart, humour, and hard work has allowed her to achieve her dreams. An advocate for disability, Ellie uses her platform as a disabled model to act as a role model and inspire other people with Down Syndrome. Ellie's story highlights the importance of family, and how community and support can carry people through the toughest of times. Against All Odds includes the perspective of both Ellie and her mother Yvonne, making Ellie's story the perfect read for parents and carers of those with disabilities or those who, like Katie Piper OBE, are passionate about championing the most vulnerable in society. Against All Odds is the first book in Katie Piper's UnSeen series, which shed light on untold stories of unwavering hope that deserve to be heard. The UnSeen empowers readers to own their stories and know that they too deserve to be seen. Ellie's inspirational story will challenge you to unlearn everything you thought you knew about living with a disability and inspire you to see adversity as fuel for your fight.
If you were given a second chance at life, what would you do with it?Kevin Parker got that chance when he nearly died from a drug overdose, losing his leg in the ordeal. He made the decision to fight back against addiction, beginning a spiritual journey of self-development. Along the way, he became a coach and a public speaker to inspire others to overcome their own struggles.In Winning Against All Odds, you will discover the secret to unlocking the true warrior within: If you can turn your biggest weakness into your greatest strength, you will become truly unstoppable.
Legal life Manual. Do you live in the Jungle with Animals? Or live in civilized Society? If in the latter this book is for you. Are you a victim or a survivor? Survive and Protect yourself from gender discrimination, culture biases, belittling within home, educational to professional workplace, mental, verbal, physical, emotional, exploitation, rape and all kinds of sexual abuse. Trapped or stifled in unhappy marriage, parent child discord, years of working with bad bosses, compromise on a daily basis. Are you a prisoner of the moment.? Do you want to run away, feel suicidal? Politics of the Universe, society. Don't let it shackle you. When you are pushed to the wall. Push back. When you have nothing to lose then give yourself that one chance and take a courageous step. Don't give up. It's hard, very hard but courage and self-belief will open doors. Gather inspiration from my journey and trust me you can do it. All of us can be leaders, all we have to do is nudge that dormant factor. Giving in easy. Tenacity and resilience are words to describe that one moment when you decide to take action even if it is swimming against the tide or Against all Odds. No matter what the problem, I am your partner to overcome the challenge and turn it into a steppingstone to progress. Leader's walk the talk and should be accessible to make a difference in people's lives. Money cannot do that. Care can. Do You care for yourself or others? I care for others.
Stuey Lewis Against All Odds by Jane Schoenberg Pdf
Stuey Lewis has conquered second grade, but third grade's no piece of cake, either. Can he figure out how to transport his whole class to outer space, navigate a first airplane trip disaster, celebrate the best Mother's Day ever, and find a cool enough pet for the class's pet show? With a little help from his best friend, Will, and his awesome teacher, Ginger, of course he can!
If you are young (or young only in heart!) and attempting to discover who you are meant to be, Fr. Mark Mossa can help you find the ways God is already in your life. Mossa provides an honest and entertaining account of how he, as a younger adult, now a Jesuit priest, attempts to find God's will for his life. We need only take some time to reflect on our experience--and that is what Mark Mossa helps us to do--and we'll see that God has already been trying to communicate with us in unexpected and surprising ways. The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.