Most Popular Books by Ruth Thomas

Mum knew she shouldn''t have left the children alone. That was why she was hurrying home, running to catch the evening train. She was so worried about Nicky and Roy that she didn''t hear the thief come up behind her; she didn''t look carefully when she dashed across the road . . . Back at home Nicky is findingit harder and harder to reassure her younger brother Roy. Soon the children are running out of money and the neighbours are getting suspicious. But whatever happens, Nicky is certain of one thing - she will NEVER tell.

In an age of ecological decay, Western ontological and epistemological assumptions have to be revisited. This book offers such a revision. It opens with a critical analysis of the paradigm of sustainable development and problematically situates it within the ecocidal trajectory of Western metaphysics. In search of some tools for examining the ecological conundrum, the book develops a pool of new categories of knowledge called “transpositions”. Though of cross-disciplinary nature, this work must be situated within the tradition of the post-Kantian critique of reason. To develop its own framework of analysis, it relies heavily upon Nietzsche’s oeuvre and that of part of his entourage (including Heidegger, Foucault, Derrida, and Plotnitsky). Major inputs also come from the work of the ecophilosopher of science Patrick Curry and ecofeminism at large. It will appeal to students and established scholars in environmental studies, ecology and philosophy.

Julia and Nathan have no friends to speak of. They''re misfits of Mrs Henrey''s class - awlays the last to be picekd for the team, and always without a partner. Then they discover a stash of money in a deserted house and suddenly, instant popularity seems just around the corner. But so is trouble, in the shape of the adults who start asking difficult questions. There is only one thing the pair can do now, and that is to run away!

There''s been a spate of break-ins lately in the area and everyone in Kate''s class is saying that the burglar is Desmond Locke''s dad because he''s just come out of prison. Everyone, that is, except Kate. She''s sure that Mr Locke is innocent and turns to her Secret Seven books for inspiration - they always find the real thief. Kate and Desmond become detectives to find out the truth and prove Desmond''s dad is innocent. But the truth isn''t always what you would like it to be and Kate is horrified when she discovers who really is... GUILTY.

Edward is the school wheeler-dealer with dreams of becoming a millionaire by the time he''s twenty. When he finds a mysterious package in the park, he ropes two school-mates into a daring scheme, one that catapults them into an adventure of secrets and intrigue - and his wish seems very close to becoming a reality.

This collection of essays explores the origins and roles of Southeast Asian business groups, especially as they developed during the 1970s and 1980s. An important contribution to studies of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. Includes a comprehensive introduction by the editor.

The rebellion of the Indonesian Communist Party in 1926-27 was a significant event which had a considerably greater impact on Indonesia''s subsequent political development than the actual strength marshalled by the Communists might suggest. Very little has been written about the rebellion and its background, and the documents necessary for its study have been extremely difficult of access, even to those who read Dutch. We have felt that translation and publication of the three reports here presented would be useful to those seeking a fuller understanding of this period of Indonesia''s modern history - one which has remained nearly as obscure as it is important. The Introduction should help the reader see these documents in their proper context and give him a fuller appreciation of the nature of the rebellion and the conditions which nurtured it. The two editors - Dr. Harry Benda, Associate Professor of History at Yale University, and Ruth T. McVey, Research Associate in the Cornell Modern Indonesia Project - have both done extensive research in modern Indonesian political and social history, Ruth McVey being currently engaged in completing a major study of Indonesian Communism during the period 1920 - 1927. The Cornell Modern Indonesia Project is indebted to Mrs. Elizabeth Maijer for translation of the Governor General''s Note and the Bantam Report, and to Professor Harry Benda for translation of the political section of the West Coast of Sumatra Report. - George McT. Kahin, November 15, 1959

Insight Study Guides are written by experts and cover a range of popular literature, plays and films. Designed to provide insight and an overview about each text for students and teachers, these guides endeavor to develop knowledge and understanding rather than just provide answers and summaries.

In these two monographs, first presented as part of the Frank H. Golay Memorial Lecture series sponsored by the Southeast Asia Program at Cornell University, Craig J. Reynolds and Ruth McVey each review Southeast Asian Studies as an academic enterprise and offer their proposals for adapting and revitalizing the academy''s approach to Southeast Asia in particular and area studies generally.

At fifteen, Sally Tuttle and Rowena Cresswell were firm friends, until a shocking event changed their lives. Now in their early forties, they are estranged, both single mothers, both haunted with memories of their intense friendship. Sally is an embroiderer, a needlewoman who works at a repairs shop in East Grinstead. When she wins an embroidery prize and is invited to deliver a lecture in Edinburgh, she has to leave her teenage daughter Pearl alone and step into this daunting new role. As fate would have it, Rowena is in Edinburgh too, helping her son move out of his student

Ruth Thomas, the text guide writer, specialises in Australian memoir/biography and brings to the analysis of this text a great empathy and experience. She opems it up for students encouraging them to explore it for themselves.

Introducing a range of characters and themes, from childhood to old age, from family loyalties to communication breakdowns, and from loss to love and freedom, her stories buzz with insouciant humour as characters address contemporary dilemmas and classic situations. With settings ranging from Britain to Spain, to Greece and the United States, this is a cosmopolitan and engaging collection. Thomass ability to capture the smallest detail with characteristic humour and bite make her stories a joy to read.

A look at Hollywood''s brightest star, featuring 60 color photos. From her first faltering steps as an eight-year-old on a Sydney stage to the acclaim that greeted her Oscar-nominated performance in Moulin Rouge and her captivating turn on stage in The Blue Room, Nicole Kidman has excelled in every arena she has entered. But who is this flame-haired, sapphire-eyed beauty who has taken the entertainment world by storm? Kidman''s rise through the ranks of Australian television and film eventually led to leading roles in Hollywood. While box office success initially stayed just out of range, her A-list status was assured when she and husband Tom Cruise were cast in Stanley Kubrick''s controversial film Eyes Wide Shut. But why did everything seem to fall apart just as she was reaching her goals? And what has she had to sacrifice to achieve them? In Nicole Kidman, journalists Paul Simpson and Ruth Thomas look at her intriguing path to superstardom.

Ruth Thomas''''s debut collection of stories bu zzes with insouciant humour. She addresses herself to contem porary dilemmas and classic situations such as disastrous da tes, irritating girlfriends and obscure longings for escape. ''

This volume features in-depth coverage of series three of Farscape, the sci-fi television show. It takes an exclusive, detailed look behind the scenes, with access to the show''s stars and production team, and also includes an episode guide to the whole of season three.

Delicately poised on the cusp of melancholy, fragility and folly, Ruth Thomas'' stories offer a fresh take on the contradictions of human nature.