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Merissa (13378 KP) rated Meet Me at the Top in Books
Jul 27, 2022 (Updated Jul 27, 2023)
A short but oh-so-sweet story.
MEET ME AT THE TOP is a short but oh-so-sweet story about two people who meet by accident and yet make an impact on each others' lives.
Alice is having a dream trip to the city where her favourite film was made. She meets Sam when she goes to a bar to see if she can sit in the same seat. I would say the attraction is immediate, but neither of them acts upon it. After all, that would be a little weird! Instead, they chat and then bump into each other again later on. This leads to a dinner invitation that Alice has the choice to accept or not, completely on her terms.
I really enjoyed this story but I. NEED. MORE!!!! This is the reason novellas aren't my favourite. This only gave me a snippet and left me with so many questions I need answers to. I loved how Sam and Alice were together, how they admitted to their attraction whilst acknowledging the difficulties they faced. It was a bittersweet ending for me, only because I. NEED. MORE!!!! I need my HEA for both of them; they deserve it and so much more. Please, Ms Pratt, tell me they're happy and together! I'm begging you.
A wonderfully warm tip-of-the-hat to Nora Ephron, written in S.H. Pratt's heart-warming and succinct style. A great novella that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 22, 2022
Alice is having a dream trip to the city where her favourite film was made. She meets Sam when she goes to a bar to see if she can sit in the same seat. I would say the attraction is immediate, but neither of them acts upon it. After all, that would be a little weird! Instead, they chat and then bump into each other again later on. This leads to a dinner invitation that Alice has the choice to accept or not, completely on her terms.
I really enjoyed this story but I. NEED. MORE!!!! This is the reason novellas aren't my favourite. This only gave me a snippet and left me with so many questions I need answers to. I loved how Sam and Alice were together, how they admitted to their attraction whilst acknowledging the difficulties they faced. It was a bittersweet ending for me, only because I. NEED. MORE!!!! I need my HEA for both of them; they deserve it and so much more. Please, Ms Pratt, tell me they're happy and together! I'm begging you.
A wonderfully warm tip-of-the-hat to Nora Ephron, written in S.H. Pratt's heart-warming and succinct style. A great novella that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 22, 2022
Kaz (232 KP) rated The Keeper Of Lost Things in Books
Jun 9, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
I thought that this book was generally good. The writing of this was, at times, beautiful and I think that the majority of the characters were likable and well formed. I think that Portia, Bomber's sister was rather cartoony and over exaggerated and I didn't really like her involvement in the story, it was a little bit too silly for me.
I think the story line with Bomber was much more interesting and heart wrenching than the modern one. The idea of lost things, kind of fizzled out into something that was conventional, rather than having a more mysterious edge to it.
I thought that the way the story lines in the present and the past were tied together, was rather flimsy and too convenient. I liked all of the characters in the present, but this story line was a little cheesy and a bit cliche ( it seems like every single woman that has a break up or a bad marriage gets a dog!)
Personally, I think it would have been better to get rid of the modern plot line all together and just have a book about Bomber and a separate book of the different short stories about the lost things, as I enjoyed reading them and felt they were the stronger points of the book.
Despite its problems, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a easy and quick read.
I think the story line with Bomber was much more interesting and heart wrenching than the modern one. The idea of lost things, kind of fizzled out into something that was conventional, rather than having a more mysterious edge to it.
I thought that the way the story lines in the present and the past were tied together, was rather flimsy and too convenient. I liked all of the characters in the present, but this story line was a little cheesy and a bit cliche ( it seems like every single woman that has a break up or a bad marriage gets a dog!)
Personally, I think it would have been better to get rid of the modern plot line all together and just have a book about Bomber and a separate book of the different short stories about the lost things, as I enjoyed reading them and felt they were the stronger points of the book.
Despite its problems, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a easy and quick read.
Heaven Changes Everything: The Rest of Our Story
Book
There's so much more to the story. Todd and Sonja Burpo's almost-four-year-old son Colton made an...
Ivana A. | Diary of Difference (1171 KP) rated Books for Kids: Goodnight, Monster! in Books
Oct 2, 2020
A cute and cheeky bedtime story!
I knew I was going to enjoy this little read as soon as I saw the cover and the little blurb. Goodnight, Monster! by Chloe Sanders is a story about Ben, who doesn’t want to go to bed, because there is a monster in his room.
A message to give people a chance
When his mother encourages Ben to make friends with the monster. There is a lovely moment here with a message to give people a chance, as they are more than what they look on the outside. I really loved this moment, and I wish more children books focused on it.
Ben says hi to the monster and makes friends, and then gets him ready for bed. He teaches Monster Bo how to brush his teeth, and have a bath, and have dinner, but the monster keeps trying to misbehave and hides Ben’s socks under the bed, and does other cute silly things, but Ben teaches him how to be a good monster.
I really loved this bedtime story. I think it has a lot of messages to teach young children – especially for them to realise that it is now time for bed. Furthermore, a couple of life lessons are secretly hidden inside this book too, that makes me really happy.
If you have little ‘’monsters’’ at home, I am sure both of you will enjoy this short bedtime story.
I knew I was going to enjoy this little read as soon as I saw the cover and the little blurb. Goodnight, Monster! by Chloe Sanders is a story about Ben, who doesn’t want to go to bed, because there is a monster in his room.
A message to give people a chance
When his mother encourages Ben to make friends with the monster. There is a lovely moment here with a message to give people a chance, as they are more than what they look on the outside. I really loved this moment, and I wish more children books focused on it.
Ben says hi to the monster and makes friends, and then gets him ready for bed. He teaches Monster Bo how to brush his teeth, and have a bath, and have dinner, but the monster keeps trying to misbehave and hides Ben’s socks under the bed, and does other cute silly things, but Ben teaches him how to be a good monster.
I really loved this bedtime story. I think it has a lot of messages to teach young children – especially for them to realise that it is now time for bed. Furthermore, a couple of life lessons are secretly hidden inside this book too, that makes me really happy.
If you have little ‘’monsters’’ at home, I am sure both of you will enjoy this short bedtime story.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The House of Ashes in Books
Feb 13, 2022
I am ashamed to say that I haven't read anything by Stuart Neville for years ... I have no excuse other than I must have had my head stuck in the sand or developed short-term amnesia because I forgot how much I enjoyed reading his words.
This is a sad and tragic story told from the perspective of two women, Sara and Mary, and from two timelines, the present and sixty years ago, with all 'action' taking place on an isolated farm in Northern Ireland.
This is not a story full of joy or happiness but rather there is an overwhelming sense of darkness and sadness with a foreboding undertone from start to finish that is intense and certainly keeps you on edge. Having said that, it is also a story of strength, survival and hope amidst a backdrop of abuse, control and gaslighting.
I admit this isn't a story for everyone and I can't say I enjoyed it given the nature of its content, however, it was an excellent read that had me hooked and took me through so many emotions that many books don't do nowadays that I can only recommend it to others who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with a little of the supernatural thrown in to enhance the overall feel of the book.
Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
This is a sad and tragic story told from the perspective of two women, Sara and Mary, and from two timelines, the present and sixty years ago, with all 'action' taking place on an isolated farm in Northern Ireland.
This is not a story full of joy or happiness but rather there is an overwhelming sense of darkness and sadness with a foreboding undertone from start to finish that is intense and certainly keeps you on edge. Having said that, it is also a story of strength, survival and hope amidst a backdrop of abuse, control and gaslighting.
I admit this isn't a story for everyone and I can't say I enjoyed it given the nature of its content, however, it was an excellent read that had me hooked and took me through so many emotions that many books don't do nowadays that I can only recommend it to others who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with a little of the supernatural thrown in to enhance the overall feel of the book.
Thank you to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Wandering Souls in Books
Mar 25, 2023
Since reading Wandering Souls on The Pigeonhole, it has made it on to the Women’s Prize long list. And well-deserved it is too.
This is the story of a family who make it by boat to Hong Kong from Vietnam. At least Anh and her two brothers do. Their parents and younger siblings come after them and drown.
This is Anh’s story, and how she copes on their journey from Vietnam to Hong Kong, and then on to London where they settle permanently. It’s a story of loss, life-long trauma and the struggle to find security and happiness. It brought home the continuing issues of refugees - particularly those who take the dangerous route of the sea. It always makes me think of these lines from Warsan Shire’s “Home”:
“You have to understand that no one puts children in a boat
Unless the water is safer than the land”
Anh and her family want a better life than that of poverty, war and political oppression.
This is a dark story and the experiences have such a huge effect on every aspect of Anh and her brothers lives, and you can still see this in the interactions that Anh has with her own children.
It’s a wonderful book, and well worth reading. I’ve learnt so much about the Vietnamese people who resettled in the UK and their journeys here.
I wouldn’t be at all disappointed to see this make the short list.
This is the story of a family who make it by boat to Hong Kong from Vietnam. At least Anh and her two brothers do. Their parents and younger siblings come after them and drown.
This is Anh’s story, and how she copes on their journey from Vietnam to Hong Kong, and then on to London where they settle permanently. It’s a story of loss, life-long trauma and the struggle to find security and happiness. It brought home the continuing issues of refugees - particularly those who take the dangerous route of the sea. It always makes me think of these lines from Warsan Shire’s “Home”:
“You have to understand that no one puts children in a boat
Unless the water is safer than the land”
Anh and her family want a better life than that of poverty, war and political oppression.
This is a dark story and the experiences have such a huge effect on every aspect of Anh and her brothers lives, and you can still see this in the interactions that Anh has with her own children.
It’s a wonderful book, and well worth reading. I’ve learnt so much about the Vietnamese people who resettled in the UK and their journeys here.
I wouldn’t be at all disappointed to see this make the short list.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated Steel Victory in Books
Jan 18, 2018
I wasnt sure what I was getting into when I started this novel. I havent been reading vampire novels recently simply because of how overdone and cliché they have become. However, this novel is so much more. Vampires may be listed in the synopsis, but they are only a small part of the story.
Its hard to pinpoint what makes this novel so enjoyable. The only complaint I have is how short it is. If I didnt know this was part of series, I would be heartbroken. Filled with interesting character leads by powerfully inspiring females, Steel Victory has a storyline that is a joy to watch enfold. I am already looking at book #2.
Its hard to pinpoint what makes this novel so enjoyable. The only complaint I have is how short it is. If I didnt know this was part of series, I would be heartbroken. Filled with interesting character leads by powerfully inspiring females, Steel Victory has a storyline that is a joy to watch enfold. I am already looking at book #2.
Trish (4 KP) rated One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories in Books
Feb 8, 2018
I'm not normally a short story reader. I chose this because I thought it would be a funny read that would work well as an audiobook. plus, I was swayed by the "guest" readers on the audiobook.
Not only did it make me laugh but it made me think! Some of the stories were very thought-provoking, which surprised me. I enjoyed it. A few of the stories dragged on and on. My favorites were those that came abruptly to an end. They made me laugh and pause to think, instead of spelling it all out.
I was not. B.J.Novak fan from television really so I wasn't predisposed to like this book. It was just enjoyable.
Not only did it make me laugh but it made me think! Some of the stories were very thought-provoking, which surprised me. I enjoyed it. A few of the stories dragged on and on. My favorites were those that came abruptly to an end. They made me laugh and pause to think, instead of spelling it all out.
I was not. B.J.Novak fan from television really so I wasn't predisposed to like this book. It was just enjoyable.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated If He Had Not Come in Books
Feb 15, 2018 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
If He had not come is the really good short story. It has a really meaning for Christmas. What would our world be like “If He Had Not Come”? This show you though a boy named Bobby as he experienced this.
What if Jesus was not born? Would we have the world we have now? We can draw anything from the words “If I hadn't come”. Would we still be celebrating Christmas or the birth of Jesus?
This book is good for children and their parents. It good for bedtime. I would even say it even good for the holiday season and around Jesus birth. If you like a good mean full book this one is good for that.
What if Jesus was not born? Would we have the world we have now? We can draw anything from the words “If I hadn't come”. Would we still be celebrating Christmas or the birth of Jesus?
This book is good for children and their parents. It good for bedtime. I would even say it even good for the holiday season and around Jesus birth. If you like a good mean full book this one is good for that.
Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated The Lottery and Other Stories in Books
Mar 15, 2018
Jackson is the queen of turning normal people's lives into a horror show. This short story is dark, disturbing and chilling.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.
Written and published just after WWII, this clearly sends out as message to all those involved in the Holocaust. Just because something is being done by the masses, and has become a sort of tradition, doesn't mean its moral and right. This message translates to today's times too. As another reviewer perfectly put it, "there is value in tradition but beware blind faith".
This in no way surprised me, it's not that I've seen spoilers for it, I just happened to get it very early on, but that doesn't take away the effect of the horrific ending.