Smashbomb

Search

Search results

All (822)

Content

Keep Clear: My Adventures With Aspergers

Tom Cutler

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A wonderfully bittersweet, funnystrange account of living unwittingly with Asperger's syndrome. ...

Aspergers Autobiography Non-Fiction

Lucky Man: A Memoir

Michael J. Fox

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

In September 1998, Michael J. Fox stunned the world by announcing he had been diagnosed with...

David McK (3369 KP) rated Terry Pratchett: A Life with Footnotes in Books

Mar 31, 2023

I don't often read non-fiction - I had enough of that during my school/university days - preferring instead a 'good story'.

I was also going to say that I don't often read biographies.

Except that, truth be told, this is actually the first one that I've ever read (despite attempting, in the past, to start some and then getting bored senseless within about the first 10 pages or so ...)

And also, truth be told, it wasn't one that I was really going out of my way to look forward, except that the late, great Terry Pratchett is/was one of my favourites and that I saw this on sale for something like 99p.

Written by long-term assistant Rob Wilkins, this has been compiled - I think that's the right word - from 'official' notes/memories as provided by Pratchett himself (before his untimely death, in 2015, to a rare form of Alzheimer's) and from personal recollections of Rob himself, covering Pratchett's entire life story from his childhood) where he was told by his headmaster he would never amount to anything and hated reading), right on through to his diagnosis and eventual (unassisted) death.

The last part, in particular, is particularly moving.

Kudos

Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Cure For Everything: A Vampire Novella in Books

Sep 22, 2022

I don't usually read vampire books, I love a good horror book every now and again but I've never really got into vampire books so wasn't sure if this was something I would enjoy but I thought, what the heck, why not? And, I was pleasantly surprised because it wasn't what I expected at all - it was so much more.

The premise is quite simple really, Millie is happily married with 2 young children when she receives a devastating diagnosis meaning she has but months left to live. However, there is a cure ... become a vampire! Seems like a simple decision doesn't it? Not so for Millie - her mum was a vampire and it didn't end well so what will she do? And when you think you know what's going to happen, Mr Jenkins throws in a great twist which left me wanting more.

A great, quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed and that cover, wow ... eye-catching and creepy.

I am looking forward to reading more of Mr Jenkins work if this short story if anything to go by and I must thank him for making me a part of his Advance Reader Team but this in no way influenced my thoughts on this novella which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Kudos

Lab Values Medical Reference

Medical and Education

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

*TOP RATED LAB VALUE AND MEDICAL REFERENCE APP ON iTUNES* FEATURES: * 3 Medical reference apps in...

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Language Arts in Books

Feb 13, 2018

Charles Marlow is an English teacher at a private high school. His life, therefore, is filled with language and words. However, all the language in the world cannot help him communicate with his son, Cody, who is autistic. Cody's diagnosis took a toll on his marriage and now Charles finds himself alone in the house -- all his kids are out of the house, his marriage has ended -- and he's wrestling with his demons.

I absolutely loved Kallos' "Broken For You," so I was extremely excited to pick up her latest novel. It definitely took some time for this one to grow on me. The book got off to a slow start and Charles is not the most likable of characters. Still, once I got into the plot, it's a lovely tale and extremely moving. Kallos does an amazing job of tying together her ancillary characters into a beautiful way--not one that's trite, per se, but a manner that seems fitting for each.

Overall, the book is a touching tribute to language, in many forms, and to art, as well. It's also a very insightful look at autism and the toll it can take on a family, but also some of the gifts that those termed as "disabled" by the general public can give to us. Definitely worth reading - just be patient.