Bøger af Trophy D'Souza

Kevin, who endures years of systematic exclusion in his profession and painful separation from his own family, gets support and strength from 'good Samaritans' along the way, who bring optimism and resilience into his life. The story spans three countries --Australia, Myanmar (Burma) and India-- and covers some interesting facts on the history and culture especially of Burma. Kevin's early life in Burma is affected by World War 2 and the adventures and traumas it brought to the peace-loving Burmese people. With his father working for the British, who controlled Burma and India, Kevin had to spend many of his training years in India as well. In fact, it was during his adult working life in India later that his troubles began. Most of the 'agony' he faced stemmed from his association with a religious education organization. Even if there wasn't really an 'ecstasy' on the horizon for Kevin, he is now at peace with the choices he has made for his fresh start in Australia. The book highlights the 'unholy collusion' by religious Managers who use their 'power' to control human freedom and development. The 'pain' that Kevin went through in 'silence' now finds meaningful expression in the book. The facts exposed could very well serve as guidelines for those who hold authority especially in religious organizations today. The book, while exposing dysfunctional situations, does not in any way depreciate religious beliefs or broadly held human concerns. One reviewer of the book, now a student in his second year of religious training in India said, 'The free-flowing language and the way in which facts are presented should help send out some powerful messages.' Another reviewer, a college lecturer in Australia, a Nun, said, 'I read it in one sitting. It was so engrossing. Some of my friends have felt the same.'

Two travellers -a man and a lady-chance to sit side by side on a long-haul flight from East Africa to Bangkok (Thailand). After formal introductions, starting at the served-meal, the two soon get interested in each other's work, and then in each other's lives. One things leads to another and, before they realize it, the flight from Nairobi to Bangkok has an emergency stopover in a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, Male. Constraints in accommodation compel the airline to use pair-seating arrangements on the plane to slot into double-rooms in the hotels. The man (Justin) and the lady (Alice) have to share a room. Initially Alice squirms at the idea of sharing a room with a stranger, and requests that at least an extra bed be put into the room. However, the chat on the plane led Alice, who had checked in with light personal luggage but heavy emotional baggage, to believe that Justin was not just a man of character but was perhaps someone she could trust to do more for her. Asking for the extra bed was perhaps a ruse to give Alice time to work out her plan to entice Justin to get closer to her. Alice's problems were really hiding the skeletons in her cupboard, especially her liaisons with John in her workplace in Africa. But the John-experience had developed a sort of emotional-bravado in her that encouraged her to take the first step to get close to Justin. Alice's Plan B of sobs and a sexy nightie got Justin, a novice to emotional-play, to come on board. All the rigors of training both in religious principles and in Justin's responsible UN position came a cropper against the charms of a beautiful woman. Alice literally got her man: fully and completely hers. Justin's world collapses but he doesn't lose face. His apparent fall from that mighty level of austerity and asceticism is well cushioned by the wonderfully compensating companionship of not just a lovely woman but a person who taught him some genuine values of love. In a nutshell, it is a story of love: all beautifully worked out in a hotel room, in the small island of Male, in the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean -all starting off from Nairobi in East Africa on a Flight to Bangkok in Thailand. It is literally a story of Romance in the Air.

'Petals and Pebbles' uses facts and stories to talk about situations people face every day. The Author, Elias Dias, uses his pastoral experience and his counselling skills to offer advice to the average reader looking for guideposts in life. The friendly style of the book, together with the glossary and the references, makes it a book that can be read in the comfort of one's home, or for more serious study, or perhaps while commuting to work. The short chapters and the subtitles offer even the casual reader the possibility of browsing or reading just the chapters or sections that need to be read. The book should prove to be an invaluable resource to teachers, preachers, lawyers, social workers, leaders and managers. The book has received warm praise from a lay pastor in Australia, a teacher in Canada, a youth worker in South Africa and a pastor in the Philippines. Many of their comments seem to suggest that the book would appear to talk to them, very much the way that Pope Francis speaks to his audiences across the world.

Charles Stephenson had to cope with a difficult childhood. It was quite a problem for his parents to try to control his boyhood exuberance. They imagined that school would sort him out but moving him from one school to another proved unproductive. Perhaps he lacked motivation, or maybe he was not meant for serious or methodical academic work. These were reasons enough for the education systems of the time to single him out for the rough treatment that they meted out to rebellious or failing children in Burma. His father too believed that only corporal punishment was the answer to poor academic achievement. Guidance, counselling, understanding and support-learning were not on the agenda of either home or school those days. So, Charles had it rough all the way: from home and school right through to the army and war. Perhaps there was a certain built-in resilience in Charles that helped him cope with pain and failure. It may have stemmed from an inner belief or strength he had occasionally shown in the way he spoke of his trust in the Divine. He endured punishment and humiliation without losing hope or looking for redress. The trials he endured in his early years in many ways prepared him for the hardships of army life. His near-death escapes however left their own scars in the lack of confidence he occasionally showed or in the fear of the unknown that developed in later years. In a strange way the skills he acquired in his boyhood adventures served to hone the techniques required in battle situations. They made him a soldier who was willing to take risks and to take the lead in the most difficult of circumstances. His gregarious instincts kept him close to his buddies and made him a mate his colleagues could trust and rely on. His linguistic skills contributed hugely towards the intelligence required by the British army fighting an enemy hiding in the unknown terrain of Burma. He was proud to fight in the British army and was glad to have benefited from the time he spent in training and in combat. His loyalty to 'King and Country' as the British put it, helped to keep his enthusiasm alive and his mind focused. The story of Charles and the narrative in the book resonate with the drums of World War II, even if the agonies and ecstasies take place in the peaceful and harmonious settings of the lush-green mountains of Burma. The descriptions and the delicate use language help to weave through the unpleasantness of war and disaster, and bring out the softer side of incidents while enriching this truly human story. Trophy D'Souza who writes the book for Charles has five other books which also speak of human endurance, but in dysfunctional situations. The protagonists survive or evolve through seemingly complex situations. Their resilience and self-belief also help them find solutions through unexpected human or divine intervention in their lives. Amazon and Google sites tell you more about D'Souza's motivating books which should really be on the bookshelves of families, homes, institutions and libraries. But Charles' story is really special. It is one for the road -one that has to be read and appreciated before it gets forgotten on the shelf.