{"product_id":"the-story-of-our-lives-irene-turnbull-banham-9781918465013","title":"The Story of Our Lives - Do Dragons Really Fly?","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn war, survival is everything - but the heart has a war of its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Story of Our Lives - Do Dragons Really Fly? is a sweeping, emotionally rich family saga inspired by true events, tracing one woman's extraordinary journey through love, loss, courage and survival across continents and generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet against the turbulent backdrop of the Second World War, the story begins in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, before carrying the reader deep into the Far East - from colonial Hong Kong to the Philippines, Australia, and eventually home again. When Hong Kong falls to the Japanese Imperial Army, Constance- Philomena Briton, a young mother, is forced to make an impossible choice: remain and risk everything, or flee into the unknown with her children.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnder cover of darkness, guided by instinct, resilience and an unshakeable maternal love, Constance escapes through fear-soaked nights, dangerous seas and foreign lands. Along the way, she encounters extraordinary acts of kindness, profound cultural connections, and a mysterious Chinese Sea Lord whose presence will echo through generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the heart of this novel lies a powerful metaphor drawn from Chinese belief: the dragon within. Not a creature of destruction, but a symbol of inner strength, wisdom and courage - the force that rises when life demands the impossible. As Constance faces war, separation, displacement and uncertainty, her inner dragon awakens, carrying her forward when hope seems fragile.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSpanning more than a century, The Story of Our Lives - Do Dragons Really Fly? is a richly textured tale of: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Female resilience and quiet heroism\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Family bonds that endure across time and distance\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Cultural intersections between East and West\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- The unseen threads that bind generations together\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTold through vivid settings, intimate personal moments, and historical detail, this novel blends historical fiction with deeply human storytelling. Artefacts of memory - telegrams, postcards, letters of condolence, and stories handed down through family gatherings - weave the past into the present, reminding us how one woman's courage can shape countless lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Irene Turnbull-Banham\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1918465010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781918465013\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Grand Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/16\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 210\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.63lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.48d","brand":"Irene Turnbull-Banham","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48874544627967,"sku":"9781918465013","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-story-of-our-lives-irene-turnbull-banham-9781918465013","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}