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ClareR (6118 KP) rated The Possible World in Books

Jul 15, 2018

The Possible World

Liese O'Halloran Schwarz | 2018 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry

9.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

I have to admit that I approached this with some trepidation. I had requested to read it based purely on the front cover (a bird in flight and a child stood with their arms out wide - the UK cover, I think). It really stands out. And as I started to read it, I realised that it wasn't just the cover that stood out. The prose is beautifully written. It's difficult subject matter: a child is brought into ER as the sole survivor of a massacre, and is taken care of by Lucy, the doctor. He doesn't remember anything, it seems. Clare (good name choice, by the way) is nearly 100 years old, and is living in a home across town. She's not happy to be there.
These people's lives all seem to be separate, but they do come together eventually. And it's so emotional when they do. It's an emotional book with some dark subject matter, but there is also hope.
It's well worth a read, but don't forget the kleenex. You'll need it.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole and NetGalley for the chance to review this book.

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Merissa (13883 KP) rated When the Skies Rained Freedom in Books

Jan 10, 2024

WHEN THE SKIES RAINED FREEDOM is another amazing story, based on real-life accounts, that tells the story too often unheard, that of the people just trying to survive.

Lotte is one of millions of Berliners trying to live in a city that has quite literally been torn apart. The conditions they live in are horrible, but they do it. They make the best of what little they have, even when things take a turn for the worse.

It wasn't hard to imagine any of it due to the high calibre of the writing. It didn't have to be described in minute detail for the message to get across - I'm thinking of what happened to Lotte's mother here. I was hoping for a happy ending for Lotte, but I am also aware that so many didn't get one.

I love this author's work. It is hard reading at times but worth every moment. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 7, 2024

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graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Patti's Luck (Sleepover Friends, #1) in Books

Feb 15, 2019

My rating is based on how much I would have liked this as a ten-year-old. For some reason, I never read any books in the Sleepover Friends' series, even though it's a kind of a cousin-once-removed to the Baby-Sitter's Club series. So when I saw this and another one at a recent library book sale, I figured, why not?

This book has a little of everything most girls like: sleepovers (duh), junk food and baking, talk of boys, games, makeovers with purple hair gel, movies, the paranormal, school fairs, field trips, new friends, and who knows what I've forgotten! Plus, a moment when Stephanie's father cross-dresses as fortune teller at the school fair. That gave me some thoughts about secrets in that family. Maybe that's why they moved from "The City." There's some moments of suspended belief, the biggest is when Patti and Lauren chase after a car (homework was put on the bumper and apparently it stuck real good :P), Lauren (the narrator) loses track of Patti, gets back to school and tells their teacher that Patti's lost. The teacher, being told of a new student unaware of the area being lost, says not to worry(!), that someone will point her back to the school. What?! All I'm thinking is good thing this isn't the real world! Abduction, anybody? There's also a lot of baking these fifth-graders do, they talk surprisingly well, probably better than I do, and have heaps of common sense, but hey, it's a harmless kids' book that I would have gobbled up when I was that age. Overall, it's a cute book that I think even girls today would enjoy.