The Endless Struggle

Hugged and hated by Hitler, cheered by Churchill, traumatized by Tracy and Turner, loved and wounded by luscious women--Paul Kuttner's life can only be described as an accumulation of sky-high adventurous summits and, on the other side of the human scale, an endless row of diabolically hard times. An early life of goo fortune turned when Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Two meetings with the Gestapo, and an internment by the English on the Isle of Man for suspected spying later, and Mr. Kuttner made his way to the United States where he worked as a Hollywood reporter. This thrilling and poignant memoir recounts a sensational life filled with personal struggles and lingering memories of extraordinary encounters with Hollywood legends, a few saintly people, and some of the most heinous war criminals of the twentieth century.

With the mysterious event that devastated mankind now five months past, and winter fast approaching, Bobby, Becca and Myron hunt for game. Though life is not easy, it has at least settled into what now passes as normal. That is until they discover a band of hunters stalking human prey. For Mel, Caryn and Tara, the end of the world has been a constant struggle to survive. The new world has become chaotic and dangerous. Those with the power make the rules. Life has little value except in the depths of depravity in the minds of those who own you. Now, pursued by armed men, the three women are forced to flee or be sold into slavery. Bobby, Becca and Myron rescue the women, but are then hunted themselves. With time running out and the hunters closing in around them, the small band must find a place to make a stand, a place to survive.

Polk is an old semi-literate Greek immigrant and disillusioned Communist who hungers for respect, especially from young Rudy, whom he likes to think of as his son. Rudy, whose father died young, hungers for the life experience of this strangely appealing social misfit. The two spend a day in Coney Island seeking not so much amusement as each other. Polk's resistance to telling the unpalatable truth about himself is matched by the boy's insistence on hearing it, as well as by his youthful dream of a perfect revolutionary society, even if that must trample hapless individuals like Polk. The comedy of Polk's antics in his quest for admiration leads time and again to defeat throughout the day, from which Rudy tries to rescue him. Polk is in the end rescued only by his acceptance of his fate and by the devotion of "his son". But not even the life experience he has wrested from the old man can keep Rudy from his youthful Utopian illusions.

The Descent is the story of a woman who, crushed by a devastating separation, sets off on an inner journey to discover her true self, her heart, and free it from its shields, shackles and chains to be able to live her life fully, with joy and passion. Sophia is guided by her dreams. When she experiences her entire life crashing down around her, she finds herself buried under debris, mud and darkness. She crawls her way deeper into the darkness, to find what is hidden there. Each chapter begins with a dream, image and sometimes internal bodywork, followed by meaning, understanding and real life events and feelings around what is happening. Sophia, guided by her dreams, peels layer after layer of abuse-driven protection and barriers, unblocking constrictions and delving deep into darkness and pain to find the innermost beauty of a shining soul, trapped under many layers of protection, self-hate, guilt and fear, created from suffering to provide self-defence. Her dreams reveal the truth about herself, helping her understand who she truly is. She starts to understand her truth and her hidden unconscious. Sophia is drawn down into investigating her shadow, curious about what is hidden there, desiring to live a more fulfilled, aware, whole and happy life. What she encounters is at times surprising and heartbreaking, at times hopeful and joy-releasing. Discovering what has been hidden leads her to a new life, full of joy and understanding, compassion and forgiveness, contentment and peace. The Descent is written in a way that shows how dreams can lead us, how their symbolism can be interpreted and how they can be used to help guide us in our lives. It is a fascinating read for those who are feeling lost in life, as well as anyone who enjoys the story of an ordinary woman’s discovery of herself.