Up-and-coming American short story writers have recently been heeding the old advertising adage: sex sells. Chicago author Christine Sneed is the latest to get down and dirty. Her second collection, The Virginity of Famous Men , comprises 13 stories centred on desire, sex and the eroticism of celebrity. Richly drawn and authentic, the characters offer glimpses of their lives — or in one case, a humorous synopsis — that make for compulsive reading. The stories are fast-paced and full of action, with Sneed often pairing two unlikely events instead of the singular inciting incident. Older Sister sees a vulnerable college student rein in her drinking after being raped at a campus party at Georgetown University. The epiphany of just how miserable her situation is comes with the announcement — and poignant arrival — of an unknown older sister. His hopes for helping orphans are given a dose of reality when he notices the new pedicures and car the nuns have bought with his funds. In both these stories, and in the collection as a whole, Sneed refuses to cave to the unrealistic hopes of her characters. The author of one previous collection and two novels, Sneed has already made a name for herself in the US.
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With the coronavirus pandemic ongoing, lots of people are juggling homeschooling responsibilities alongside working from home for full-time jobs. Your little ones will be taken on a journey around the world to learn about different cultures and traditions from the comfort of the living room. Take a look at the timetable:. Live from the heart of the South African bush, Ulusaba rangers will take kids on an extra special safari, teaching them about the incredible African wildlife that live in the reserve. The kids will also discover how they work to protect the environment through conservation, preserving it for future generations. The rangers will also teach important tracking skills and give kids the chance to guess the animal based on their footprints.
I n small and remote villages of the Albanian Alps, there some who have a made a greater sacrifice than others; who hold a secret from outsiders behind their worn out faces and hard-worked frames. We are looking at portraits of women who have chosen to live their lives as men to help their families and themselves. It is a decision for life and traditionally requires the women to cut their hair, dress in male clothing and adopt the roles and mannerisms of men. An answer from the woman behind the lens :. Young girls were commonly forced into arranged marriages, often with much older men in distant villages. A family suddenly without a patriarch or male heir would find themselves in jeopardy of losing everything. Jill Peters is the photographer that went looking for the last sworn virgins of Albania. I thought it was absolutely necessary to ask a few more questions about her experience with these fascinating people…. I was reading a book on gender diversity and I came across a chapter about the Sworn Virgins.
