An electrifying New York Times bestselling novel about marriage and deceit that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they have hidden from one another are exposed and relationships are unraveled. With her inimitable psychological astuteness and uncanny understanding of the human heart, Ephron delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none will see coming. One of People Magazine’s Top 10 Books • A Washington Post Bestseller • A Los Angeles Times Bestseller • A USA Today Bestseller • One of Vulture’s 100 Greatest Beach Books Ever • A People Magazine Summer Reading Pick • One of Elle, InStyle, and Marie Claire’s Best of July • A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016 (Fiction)

An electrifying New York Times bestselling novel about marriage and deceit that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they have hidden from one another are exposed and relationships are unraveled. With her inimitable psychological astuteness and uncanny understanding of the human heart, Ephron delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none will see coming. One of People Magazine’s Top 10 Books • A Washington Post Bestseller • A Los Angeles Times Bestseller • A USA Today Bestseller • One of Vulture’s 100 Greatest Beach Books Ever • A People Magazine Summer Reading Pick • One of Elle, InStyle, and Marie Claire’s Best of July • A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016 (Fiction)

The southeastern corner of Sicily is a popular choice with travelers. Its historic towns, beautiful scenery and uncrowded beaches merit a substantial part of any Sicilian itinerary. Two glorious epochs in history have helped make the southeast towns what they are today. The Greeks settled the region and it flourished for 500 years under them as a center of culture, learning and political power. The second epoch was made possible by a devastating earthquake that flattened towns and villages in 1693. As a result, it was rebuilt in the ornate architectural style known as Sicilian Baroque. Siracusa is the major city in the region and the most visited, but there are plenty of other gems to discover in the wider province. Noto, Modica and Ragusa all feature the Baroque style; you could undertake some serious trekking at Pantalica's necropolis or Cava Grande in regions of immense beauty, bird watching at Vendicarri or explore Sicily's most southern point around Portopalo. Highlights: Ortigia: This beautiful warren of streets combines ancient Greece and Baroque with a view of the sea from almost every lane. Piazza del Duomo: This is one of Sicily's great squares and the Duomo its best church and a prime example of Siracusa's polyglot character. Take a dip in Cava Grande's waterfalls and refreshing pools. Pantalica's 5,000 tombs riddling the hillsides. The beautiful wetlands of Riserva di Vendicari. A great new resource. --Travel + Leisure. "The perfect companion for planning." --Rutgers Magazine. "These useful travel guides are highly recommended." --Library Journal. There aren't many places in the world you can ski and then hit the beach afterwards for a refreshing dip; see Greek, Roman, Etruscan, medieval and Arabic architecture all in the same town; and meet some of the friendliest people in the world. The richness in culture is demonstrated in the theater, cinema and art found everywhere. The coastal towns, the Mafia, the wines and foods, the astonishing history - all are explored in this guidebook. Full color throughout. This is excerpted from our full guide to Sicily.

In the early 1960s, thousands of Black activists used nonviolent direct action to challenge segregation at lunch counters, movie theaters, skating rinks, public pools, and churches across the United States, battling for, and winning, social change. Organizers against segregation had used litigation and protests for decades but not until the advent of nonviolence did they succeed in transforming ingrained patterns of white supremacy on a massive scale. In this book, Anthony C. Siracusa unearths the deeper lineage of anti-war pacifist activists and thinkers from the early twentieth century who developed nonviolence into a revolutionary force for Black liberation. Telling the story of how this powerful political philosophy came to occupy a central place in the Black freedom movement by 1960, Siracusa challenges the idea that nonviolent freedom practices faded with the rise of the Black Power movement. He asserts nonviolence's staying power, insisting that the indwelling commitment to struggle for freedom collectively in a spirit of nonviolence became, for many, a lifelong commitment. In the end, what was revolutionary about the nonviolent method was its ability to assert the basic humanity of Black Americans, to undermine racism's dehumanization, and to insist on the right to be.

"The Siracusa Guidelines have appeared at an important and opportune moment. Those keen to promote accountability in conflicts around the world are increasingly relying on fact finding bodies to provide necessary documentation which will ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses are brought to justice. The 'Guidelines', developed from inputs by more than 80 experts, provide a thorough and welcome framework to ensure clarity and consistency throughout the processes of creating, investigating, reporting and follow-up for these various bodies." -- Karen Koning AbuZayd, Commissioner, Syria UN CoI; Former High Commissioner, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East *** "The Siracusa Guidelines for fact-finding bodies derive from a wealth of combined knowledge and experience in the field. They address in a comprehensive and integrated way many essential issues which have often been inadequately dealt with or ignored. The application of the guidelines will not only improve the conduct and effectiveness of such missions but also enhance their legitimacy." -- Philippe Kirsch, Former President, International Criminal Court; Former Ambassador and Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canada *** "Fact-Finding Bodies are an essential component of international, regional and national investigative processes. It is of paramount concern that they work to high and common standards. The obvious expertise and solid work of the Siracusa Committee has produced a draft of high quality, and of great practical application." -- Howard Morrison, Judge, International Criminal Court; Former Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia *** "These Guidelines are indispensable to those engaged in fact-finding and will contribute immensely to the process of international criminal justice." -- Hassan B. Jallow, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda / Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals *** "These guidelines are an essential resource for anybody working on issues connected with international investigation commissions in the future." -- Serge Brammertz, Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia *** "Hindsight, Insight and Foresight....These Guidelines provide a wealth of wisdom for discussion and reflection." -- Vitit Muntarbhorn, Professor of Law, Bangkok U.; international human rights expert

This is based on a true story of Phil Siracusa. He remembers being in heaven with loved ones, he was circled by something, and was pulled into the darkness of hell. He remembers being tortured with thousands of others, and the horrible pain that he felt. With his strong faith, he was pulled into the light of God, knows this, and he was born. During adolescence, a spiritual attachment followed him. He was separated by both good and evil and had choices to make. As he grew up, he had visitors from the other side who gave him visions of what was to come in his lifetime. When he became a young adult, he sought out to understand more about the paranormal world and how the other side was able to communicate with him. In his early 20's he slowly turned to organized crime with the mob. After they found out about his gift of being able to communicate with the other side, he gets in way over his head.Phil's journey to this very day continues. This book will take you to places far beyond your imagination. You will feel the presence of evil that still lingers in the air, so sit back and take a seat to read this page-turner series that exceeds any horror book or movie that has ever been written!