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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Oh Dear Silvia in Books
Dec 14, 2018
<i>Oh Dear Silvia</i> is a contemporary, somewhat humorous, novel by British comedian, Dawn French. Set in England it focuses on a sixty-year-old woman, Silvia Shute, who has fallen from a balcony, sustaining a serious head injury that has left her in a coma.
Knowing this you cannot help wondering how you do write a book where the main character is unconscious and how would this affect the narrative? This is how. Although Silvia is indeed the main character, the tale is actually told through observing family members and friends when they visit her in hospital. The entire book plays out in Silvia’s hospital room, Suite 5, but each character brings something else to story through their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Ed, Silvia’s ex husband, provides details of what has happened since their divorce. Jo, her older sister, reminisces about their childhood whist trying and failing to use a number of New Age ideas to wake Silvia up. There is Cat, her best friend, through who we discover what actually happened to Silvia, whilst, Tia, her cleaner is bringing in her favourite foods and updating her on the various goings on in the celebrity world. Cassie, her daughter however, portrays Silvia in a different light that makes us question what kind of person Silvia really was. And finally there is Winnie, a nurse at the hospital. Winnie’s accounts provide the reader with an extra storyline that is nothing to do with Silvia and her accident.
The story being told in this way gives the reader a chance to learn about who Silvia was which causes us to think different things about her which we would not have had the opportunity to feel had Silvia been able to tell the story herself. Firstly we feel worry for her, but then we begin to hate her particularly with the help of Cassie as well as Ed, who admits that had Silvia been conscious he would not have been visiting. Finally we get to a stage of understanding. Understanding who Silvia was, understanding why she did what she did, understanding what has happened to her.
The book takes on many themes: drama, mystery… and humour. Well, it is meant to be humour. I can understand the funny parts but personally it was not my type of humour. Too much swearing in my opinion. But then if you enjoy that type of thing, <i>Oh Dear Silvia</i> has the potential to be a really funny book.
Knowing this you cannot help wondering how you do write a book where the main character is unconscious and how would this affect the narrative? This is how. Although Silvia is indeed the main character, the tale is actually told through observing family members and friends when they visit her in hospital. The entire book plays out in Silvia’s hospital room, Suite 5, but each character brings something else to story through their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Ed, Silvia’s ex husband, provides details of what has happened since their divorce. Jo, her older sister, reminisces about their childhood whist trying and failing to use a number of New Age ideas to wake Silvia up. There is Cat, her best friend, through who we discover what actually happened to Silvia, whilst, Tia, her cleaner is bringing in her favourite foods and updating her on the various goings on in the celebrity world. Cassie, her daughter however, portrays Silvia in a different light that makes us question what kind of person Silvia really was. And finally there is Winnie, a nurse at the hospital. Winnie’s accounts provide the reader with an extra storyline that is nothing to do with Silvia and her accident.
The story being told in this way gives the reader a chance to learn about who Silvia was which causes us to think different things about her which we would not have had the opportunity to feel had Silvia been able to tell the story herself. Firstly we feel worry for her, but then we begin to hate her particularly with the help of Cassie as well as Ed, who admits that had Silvia been conscious he would not have been visiting. Finally we get to a stage of understanding. Understanding who Silvia was, understanding why she did what she did, understanding what has happened to her.
The book takes on many themes: drama, mystery… and humour. Well, it is meant to be humour. I can understand the funny parts but personally it was not my type of humour. Too much swearing in my opinion. But then if you enjoy that type of thing, <i>Oh Dear Silvia</i> has the potential to be a really funny book.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Fade Away (Myron Bolitar #3) in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Myron Bolitar has a meeting with the President of the Dragons. What he isn't expecting, is to be offered a position on the team. He won't get much playing time, but the underlying issue is that they need him to find another player, Greg Downing. Myron and Greg have known each other for many years, Myron even dated Greg's wife way back when. But Greg is known to disappear, so why is everyone so intent on having Myron locate him now? The reason is one you won't believe.
I have grown to love the characters in the Myron Bolitar series. The adventures they find themselves in are really not something you would expect from a sports agent and a rich guy.
When Greg Downing goes missing at first it's no big deal since this is something he does frequently. But the Dragons are about to go to the playoffs and Greg would never disappear at a time like this. Myron and Win go and take a look at Greg's place, but what they find is very unusual. When the place go back to investigate, the evidence is no longer there. What was Greg involved in? Who knows where Greg is? Why did Greg pick this time to disappear?
Finding out who is behind Greg's disappearance can end up a life or death situation for Myron. Will he find Greg and will he continue with his position on the Dragons?
I have grown to love the characters in the Myron Bolitar series. The adventures they find themselves in are really not something you would expect from a sports agent and a rich guy.
When Greg Downing goes missing at first it's no big deal since this is something he does frequently. But the Dragons are about to go to the playoffs and Greg would never disappear at a time like this. Myron and Win go and take a look at Greg's place, but what they find is very unusual. When the place go back to investigate, the evidence is no longer there. What was Greg involved in? Who knows where Greg is? Why did Greg pick this time to disappear?
Finding out who is behind Greg's disappearance can end up a life or death situation for Myron. Will he find Greg and will he continue with his position on the Dragons?
The Kind Worth Killing
8.6
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Book
This book is the Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller. It is a Richard & Judy Book Club Choice Best...
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Beyond Balderdash
7.3
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Tabletop Game
Beyond Balderdash is the expanded second edition of Balderdash. Balderdash is based on bluffing your...
BoardGames PartyGames
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in Books
Nov 6, 2021
Quite often after the success of a series when the author comes back to write more, it falls flat. This did exactly the opposite for me! I was hooked from the first couple of pages.
We follow Coriolanus Snow during the tenth Hunger Games as he becomes a mentor to an underdog, the female tribute of district 12 - Lucy Gray Baird. What follows are a series of disastrous events following the tributes and their mentors, which makes you wonder how the Games were still around when it came to Katniss’s Hunger Games.
It was perfect finding out more about Coriolanus Snow, and what made him the way he is when it came to the Hunger Games trilogy. We find out where his love or roses comes from and whether he has always been as ruthless throughout his life or if something made him that way.
Whilst the book seems a bit long when you pick it up, I loved every minute of it and when I was coming to the end I really didn’t want it to end at all! I would love to carry on reading about Coriolanus and what happened after this book and how that shaped him into President Snow.
This has renewed my love for the Hunger Games series, and I hope that Suzanne Collins has more plans for the series as I would love more. An easy 5 star rating from the start.
We follow Coriolanus Snow during the tenth Hunger Games as he becomes a mentor to an underdog, the female tribute of district 12 - Lucy Gray Baird. What follows are a series of disastrous events following the tributes and their mentors, which makes you wonder how the Games were still around when it came to Katniss’s Hunger Games.
It was perfect finding out more about Coriolanus Snow, and what made him the way he is when it came to the Hunger Games trilogy. We find out where his love or roses comes from and whether he has always been as ruthless throughout his life or if something made him that way.
Whilst the book seems a bit long when you pick it up, I loved every minute of it and when I was coming to the end I really didn’t want it to end at all! I would love to carry on reading about Coriolanus and what happened after this book and how that shaped him into President Snow.
This has renewed my love for the Hunger Games series, and I hope that Suzanne Collins has more plans for the series as I would love more. An easy 5 star rating from the start.
The Spanish Dude Podcast (Audio)
Podcast
If you’ve always wanted to learn Spanish, but didn’t think it was possible because you were...
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Dawn of Vengeance (Droseran Saga, #2) in Books
Feb 24, 2021
<b>I AM IN RECOVERY. PLEASE EXCUSE MY LACK OF COHERENTNESS. </b>
Have you read Brand of Light? Well, let me warn you. If you do (and I highly encourage you to read it) you will want to have Dawn of Vengeance already on your nightstand ready to read unlike the rest of us mortals who had to wait A YEAR to find out what the heck HAPPENED after the spectacular mic drop ending Ronie Kendig devised to keep us all engaged and going through a gauntlet of emotions.
I honestly was not sure where Ronie Kendig would take us in this new story as the ending of the last one (have I mentioned that enough yet?) was spectacular. I was a little confused in the first book by all the different names, new places, and character personality switches that seemed to go on, however, the storyline was bar none. So, needless to say, Dawn of Vengeance had a lot to live up to and boy did it. I was hooked again by the character interactions, the storyline, and the outta this world adventures.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the great story, the oh so good character turns, and for leaving me wanting more. Thank you Ronie Kendig for continuing to expand my imagination.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Have you read Brand of Light? Well, let me warn you. If you do (and I highly encourage you to read it) you will want to have Dawn of Vengeance already on your nightstand ready to read unlike the rest of us mortals who had to wait A YEAR to find out what the heck HAPPENED after the spectacular mic drop ending Ronie Kendig devised to keep us all engaged and going through a gauntlet of emotions.
I honestly was not sure where Ronie Kendig would take us in this new story as the ending of the last one (have I mentioned that enough yet?) was spectacular. I was a little confused in the first book by all the different names, new places, and character personality switches that seemed to go on, however, the storyline was bar none. So, needless to say, Dawn of Vengeance had a lot to live up to and boy did it. I was hooked again by the character interactions, the storyline, and the outta this world adventures.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the great story, the oh so good character turns, and for leaving me wanting more. Thank you Ronie Kendig for continuing to expand my imagination.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Seriously Messed Up
“Thriller of the year” according to Observer; it makes you wonder what all the other thrillers were like. Gone Girl is a contemporary crime thriller by American author Gillian Flynn. Likable “Cool Girl” Amy Dunne is missing; the police think her husband has something to do with it, but what really happened?
Flynn begins the novel with an epigraph: “Love is the world’s infinite mutability; lies, hatred, murder even, are all knit up in it; it is the inevitable blossoming of its opposites, a magnificent rose smelling faintly of blood.” – Tony Kushner, The Illusion. This implies that love and hate, and perhaps murder, will be the main issues within the novel. It hints that relationships may not be all that they first appear, which becomes evident as you read deeper into the book.
Split into three parts, the first section alternates between a first person account from Nick Dunne, the husband, of what is occurring on the day in which Amy disappears and the following days when both he and the police are attempting to determine the truth about what has happened and trying to find out where Amy is; and diary entries from Amy dating as far back as 2005.
To begin with I did not think much of the story and did not particularly like Amy, despite her being portrayed as a likable character; however I soon got into the story siding with Nick and wanting him to be innocent even though evidence and suspicion were mounting against him.
Initially I assumed that the truth would not be revealed until the end of the story rather than on the first page of part two. For the remainder of the book Nick’s narrative remains the same, progressing from where it left off at the end of part one; whereas Amy, instead of diary entries, she is telling the reader the truth about what happened on the 5th July – the day she went missing – and the subsequent days and weeks. At this point I became a bit bored with the story; as the reader we know the truth and it is frustrating that the police are getting it wrong. However part three contained more suspense than the rest of the novel.
So, why only three stars? As I already mentioned it did not seem that great at the beginning and to be honest I did not feel satisfied with the ending either. One of the main things that bothered me was the use of swear words. I understand that many people swear and so it is inevitable that these words would end up in novels; however in my opinion there is swearing and then there is swearing. This was beginning to border on the latter. Yes some of the characters were angry but I thought the use of expletives was slightly overdone.
Despite these misgivings it was a well-written piece of fiction that I think others may enjoy – the ratings on Goodreads certainly suggest that; but for me it was not anything special.
Flynn begins the novel with an epigraph: “Love is the world’s infinite mutability; lies, hatred, murder even, are all knit up in it; it is the inevitable blossoming of its opposites, a magnificent rose smelling faintly of blood.” – Tony Kushner, The Illusion. This implies that love and hate, and perhaps murder, will be the main issues within the novel. It hints that relationships may not be all that they first appear, which becomes evident as you read deeper into the book.
Split into three parts, the first section alternates between a first person account from Nick Dunne, the husband, of what is occurring on the day in which Amy disappears and the following days when both he and the police are attempting to determine the truth about what has happened and trying to find out where Amy is; and diary entries from Amy dating as far back as 2005.
To begin with I did not think much of the story and did not particularly like Amy, despite her being portrayed as a likable character; however I soon got into the story siding with Nick and wanting him to be innocent even though evidence and suspicion were mounting against him.
Initially I assumed that the truth would not be revealed until the end of the story rather than on the first page of part two. For the remainder of the book Nick’s narrative remains the same, progressing from where it left off at the end of part one; whereas Amy, instead of diary entries, she is telling the reader the truth about what happened on the 5th July – the day she went missing – and the subsequent days and weeks. At this point I became a bit bored with the story; as the reader we know the truth and it is frustrating that the police are getting it wrong. However part three contained more suspense than the rest of the novel.
So, why only three stars? As I already mentioned it did not seem that great at the beginning and to be honest I did not feel satisfied with the ending either. One of the main things that bothered me was the use of swear words. I understand that many people swear and so it is inevitable that these words would end up in novels; however in my opinion there is swearing and then there is swearing. This was beginning to border on the latter. Yes some of the characters were angry but I thought the use of expletives was slightly overdone.
Despite these misgivings it was a well-written piece of fiction that I think others may enjoy – the ratings on Goodreads certainly suggest that; but for me it was not anything special.
