Showing results by author "John McCormick" in All Categories

The Odyssey by Homer is an epic poem that follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his journey home after the Trojan War. Facing gods, monsters, and temptations, he struggles for ten years to return to Ithaca, where his wife Penelope and son Telemachus await. Odysseus outwits the Cyclops Polyphemus, resists the Sirens’ song, and survives storms sent by Poseidon. Back home, Penelope fends off suitors, hoping Odysseus is alive. With Athena’s help, Odysseus returns in disguise, defeats the suitors, and reunites with his family, completing a tale of courage, loyalty, cleverness, and the enduring ...

Dr. John McCormick discusses the healthcare industry and his vision for providing affordable quality health care for all.Video and podcast topics include: healthcare policy, healthcare costs, prescription costs, health insurance, Telehealth, Telemedicine, mental health, ERISA, patient out-of-pocket costs, patient deductibles, patient copays, self-funded health benefits, employee benefits, and more.Dr. McCormick is CEO of Ovation Health. Ovation Health is a group health plan provider, offering $0 to low deductible plans and HD plans. Ovation Direct offers subscription health benefit plans for ...

The Murder on the Links is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie.The story takes place in northern France, giving Poirot a hostile competitor from the Paris Sûreté. Poirot's long memory for past or similar crimes proves useful in resolving the crimes. The book is notable for a subplot in which Hastings falls in love, a development "greatly desired on Agatha's part... parcelling off Hastings to wedded bliss in the Argentine."

When blues master Robert Johnson's recordings were rereleased to great fanfare in the 1960s, little was known about his life, giving rise to legends that he gained success by selling his soul to the devil. Biography of a Phantom is musicologist Mack McCormick's search, from the late 1960s until McCormick's death in 2015, to uncover Johnson's life story. McCormick spent decades reconstructing Johnson's mysterious life and developing theories about his untimely death at the age of 27, but never made public his discoveries. Biography of a Phantom publishes his compelling work for the first time.

Red Riding Hood is walking through the woods, taking a lovely meal to her ailing grandmother. She has been warned about the big bad wolf, but when she meets a shaggy stranger, he insists he is the big good wolf. Should she trust him?

Focus on Art delves into all aspects of the Art world: The artists themselves, different genres of art, music and literature. We strive to have the type of lively discussions that you may overhear in a diner late at night, or among friends at a party. Join us and be part of the discussion.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow up in Civil War-era New England. Under the guidance of their loving mother, Marmee, they navigate poverty, personal dreams, and family challenges. Meg seeks domestic life, Jo aspires to be a writer, Beth is gentle and musical, and Amy is artistic and ambitious. Their bonds are tested through illness, love, loss, and societal expectations. Ultimately, the novel celebrates sisterhood, moral growth, and the pursuit of individuality while highlighting the joys and struggles of ...

This 1914 book gives a picture of the British Army structure and life in the early hours of World War I. Summary by david wales

"Carmilla" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu is a Gothic novella about a young woman named Laura who befriends a mysterious and beautiful guest, Carmilla. As their bond deepens, Laura becomes increasingly ill and haunted by strange dreams. Eventually, it's revealed that Carmilla is a vampire preying on young women. Her true identity—Mircalla, Countess Karnstein—is uncovered, leading to her destruction. The story explores themes of seduction, supernatural terror, and repressed desires, and is a precursor to later vampire fiction like Dracula.

A party of campers on a deserted Baltic island is terrorized by a huge wolf... or is it?

The Castle stood above the quiet little town for as long as folks remembered: barren, deserted, lonely and frightening to the townsfolk. Until one day, smoke began to ascend from the dunjon. They were warned not to go near, and when intrepid souls dared to venture to uncover the mystery of the ruined castle, they learned firsthand what supernatural terrors await inside The Castle of the Carpathians. Summary by Joseph DeNoia.

A classic locked room mystery, in a not-so-classic setting. (Intro by Karen Savage)

The Door of the Unreal by Gerald Biss is a chilling early 20th-century horror novel blending mystery with supernatural terror. Set in the English countryside, a series of gruesome murders shocks the region—each marked by strange, wolf-like tracks. As the investigation unfolds, suspicions of a werewolf emerge. The story follows characters caught in a web of fear, secrets, and inexplicable phenomena. With atmospheric tension and gothic undertones, Biss explores the thin line between reality and the supernatural, making this a gripping tale of suspense and the unknown. Summary by John McCormick

The Black Star was a master criminal who took great care to never be identifiable, always wore a mask so nobody knew what he looked like, rarely spoke to keep his voice from being recognized, and the only mark left at the scenes of the crimes which he and his gang committed were small black stars which were tacked as a sign of their presence, and an occasional sarcastic note to signify his presence and responsibility. Even those who worked for him knew nothing of him, all of which were making his crimes virtually unsolvable. The police were at a complete loss as to his identity and at a method...

This book contains verse for young and old. It is full of fantastic stories, breathtaking images, and brilliant rhymes. Including classics from "The Duel" to "The Delectable Ballad of Walter Lot," the author, a devout Christian, keeps his religious overtones to a minimum. When listening, please keep in mind that the text was originally written in the 1800s. -- Summary by Squid Varilekova

The life and accomplishments of England's sole title holder of "The Great." King Alfred defended England from Viking invasions and ushered in an era of learning and progress for the British Isles. Summary by Ryan Cherrick.

When this was written, literary traditions still decreed beauty to be the outward sign of inner saintliness, whereas evil characters tended to be “ugly as sin.” Jean Briggerland defies these expectations by being every bit as angelically beautiful as she is sociopathic. So lovely that all around her are blinded to her guilt no matter how blatant her crimes, only Jack Glover, best friend and lawyer of her most recent victim, is aware of her true nature. Can he stop her crime spree and bring her to justice before she murders her way to wealth and happiness? He really, really shouldn’t ...

The House of the Dead is a novel published in 1861 by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which portrays the life of convicts in a Siberian prison camp. Dostoyevsky himself spent four years in exile in such a camp following his conviction for involvement in the Petrashevsky Circle. This experience allowed him to describe with great authenticity the conditions of prison life and the characters of the convicts. The narrator, Aleksandr Petrovich Goryanchikov, has been sentenced to penalty deportation to Siberia and ten years of hard labour. Life in prison is particularly hard for Aleksandr ...

Uncle's Dream by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a satirical novella set in a provincial Russian town. It follows the ambitions of Maria Alexandrovna, a scheming mother determined to marry off her beautiful daughter Zina to a senile old prince for wealth and status. As the town buzzes with gossip, the plan unravels through misunderstandings and personal conflicts. Blending humor with social commentary, the story critiques vanity, greed, and the absurdities of provincial life in 19th-century Russian society. Summary by John McCormick

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic tale set in the American South, following the mischievous and imaginative Tom Sawyer. Alongside his best friend, Huckleberry Finn, Tom embarks on thrilling adventures—witnessing a murder, searching for hidden treasure, and getting lost in a cave. Through playful pranks, daring escapades, and heartfelt moments, Tom navigates childhood with wit and charm. Twain’s novel captures the spirit of youth, the beauty of Mississippi River life, and the timeless struggle between freedom and responsibility. It remains a beloved piece of American ...