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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated After the End in Books
Jun 25, 2019
Max and Pip have a deep, untenable bond and a strong marriage that they feel is sealed by fate. But when their nearly three-year-old son, Dylan, gets sick, everything they know changes. Dylan has a brain tumor, and now Pip spends her days in the PICU, while Max tries to juggle work and being strong for his wife and child. Then, the couple receives the worst of all news: the chemo isn't helping Dylan's tumor, and the doctors feel Dylan's condition is terminal. Suddenly, Max and Pip find themselves on opposite sides--each wanting different medical treatment for their beloved boy.
Clare Mackintosh offers us a beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking book based on her life experiences, having lost her own son. Knowing this makes the book even more tender and real, as each word is based on a kernel of truth. Reading this book isn't always easy--as a parent, my heart digested these words and put myself in the shoes of Max and Pip. This book makes you think, and it makes you so incredibly grateful for your own life, wanting to snuggle your own children and hold them dear.
"How can my son be a breath away from death, when evidence of his life is all around me? When I feel him in my heart, as surely as when I carried him in my womb?"
The story is one of loss, yes, but it's also a love story: Max and Pip, Dylan and his family, and more. We are introduced to Dylan's family and also to Dylan's doctor, Leila, whom I really liked. Leila has her own struggles. Her mom, Habibeh, is visiting, but won't leave the house, preferring to watch QVC and cook endlessly for her daughter. (Habibeh is a trip; she's awesome.) The decision of Dylan's fate falls on Leila's shoulders first: a lot for a young doctor to bear. We get the story through her eyes and then each of Dylan's parents. As a mom, I felt drawn to Pip, but I liked how we got both Pip and Max's perspectives. Each only wants what is best for their son--and, at first, each feels they are doing the right thing.
"However long you spend with someone, however well you think you know them, they can still be a stranger to you."
Mackintosh is best known for her thrillers, and, this book is just as well-written as those. And, interestingly enough, she throws in a bit of a twist here, too. I won't spoil it, per se, but will tell you that this book is a fascinating exploration of choices, allowing you to think about life and the various paths that everyone can take. It's a sad book, yes, but lovely too--a tribute to parents, medical professionals, and to the children we love so much. It's a reminder to cherish those we hold dear and that life can be short but beautiful, no matter which way it may turn out.
Overall, even though I found this difficult to read at times, I'm really glad I did. I was reminded, yet again, what a good writer Clare Mackintosh is. I'm so incredibly sorry she lost her son, and I'm in such awe that she could turn that loss into such a lovely book. I highly recommend this--it's a beautiful exploration of life's different paths and what fate can bring us.
Clare Mackintosh offers us a beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking book based on her life experiences, having lost her own son. Knowing this makes the book even more tender and real, as each word is based on a kernel of truth. Reading this book isn't always easy--as a parent, my heart digested these words and put myself in the shoes of Max and Pip. This book makes you think, and it makes you so incredibly grateful for your own life, wanting to snuggle your own children and hold them dear.
"How can my son be a breath away from death, when evidence of his life is all around me? When I feel him in my heart, as surely as when I carried him in my womb?"
The story is one of loss, yes, but it's also a love story: Max and Pip, Dylan and his family, and more. We are introduced to Dylan's family and also to Dylan's doctor, Leila, whom I really liked. Leila has her own struggles. Her mom, Habibeh, is visiting, but won't leave the house, preferring to watch QVC and cook endlessly for her daughter. (Habibeh is a trip; she's awesome.) The decision of Dylan's fate falls on Leila's shoulders first: a lot for a young doctor to bear. We get the story through her eyes and then each of Dylan's parents. As a mom, I felt drawn to Pip, but I liked how we got both Pip and Max's perspectives. Each only wants what is best for their son--and, at first, each feels they are doing the right thing.
"However long you spend with someone, however well you think you know them, they can still be a stranger to you."
Mackintosh is best known for her thrillers, and, this book is just as well-written as those. And, interestingly enough, she throws in a bit of a twist here, too. I won't spoil it, per se, but will tell you that this book is a fascinating exploration of choices, allowing you to think about life and the various paths that everyone can take. It's a sad book, yes, but lovely too--a tribute to parents, medical professionals, and to the children we love so much. It's a reminder to cherish those we hold dear and that life can be short but beautiful, no matter which way it may turn out.
Overall, even though I found this difficult to read at times, I'm really glad I did. I was reminded, yet again, what a good writer Clare Mackintosh is. I'm so incredibly sorry she lost her son, and I'm in such awe that she could turn that loss into such a lovely book. I highly recommend this--it's a beautiful exploration of life's different paths and what fate can bring us.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Stories You Tell in Books
Jul 12, 2019
Private Investigator Roxane Weary and her brother, Andrew, are night owls, but it's still never good news when she gets a call from Andrew in the middle of the night. This time, Andrew tells her that he's just had the strangest visit from Addison Stowe, a young woman who used to work with him at the hotel where he tends bar. She seemed panicked and scared, begging to used Andrew's phone, and she disappeared almost as quickly as she arrived. At Andrew's pleading, Roxane starts looking for Addison, but she quickly realizes this is not a straightforward case. Soon the police are on Addison's trail--and Andrew's too. Add a dead cop to the mix, and it looks like Andrew could be mixed up in something serious.
"Clients hired me to find lots of things, and I took them all seriously--but people, most of all."
So, I won't lie. I have a particular affinity for one Roxane Weary, our sarcastic, intelligent, bisexual PI. This is the third book in Roxane's series, and I just love them all. You know how you can give your iPhone a name? Well, one of mine (I have one for work and one for personal use, okay) is named Roxane. This gritty PI has wormed her way into my heart. And I've said it before and I'll say it again--it's just so refreshing to have a bisexual character in mainstream fiction who is real. She's not a crazy person or a murderer, she's just a smart, complex character. The main character. And when Roxane is talking, it sounds like my own friends hanging out. It makes me happy.
"The state of straight people was troubling."
This book finds Roxane on a slightly personal quest, as her search for Addison gets real fast, once it looks like Andrew could be in some big time trouble. Her searching leads her to a shady nightclub--including its shifty manager--and some of Addison's suburban friends. We also, as mentioned, have a dead cop, meaning that Tom is in full force in this one. Tom is the former partner of Roxane's late father, and Roxane's old flame. I'm happy to report that there's plenty happening in Roxane's personal life--both with Catherine and Tom. Lots of sexual tension and witty banter on a variety of fronts. (And I am the only one who would be perfectly fine if Catherine just disappeared? Roxane deserves someone who treats her properly.)
Anyway, despite a cast of recurring characters, this one will standalone just fine. That being said, if you haven't read the first two books, I highly recommend them. The conversational first-person style Lepionka uses for Roxane is amazing and draws you in from the start. I adore Roxane's voice. (Partially because I deem her my kindred spirit--see below.)
"Apparently he was one of those people who listened to and deleted messages instead of just reading the transcription and ignoring it like I did."
Roxane is a witty, awesome, complex main character, and she's nearly impossible not to love. The story itself is dark and twisted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. No gimmicks, just a good mystery. There's lots of humor, lots of surprises, and lots of Roxane, one of the best PIs around. 4.5 stars.
"Clients hired me to find lots of things, and I took them all seriously--but people, most of all."
So, I won't lie. I have a particular affinity for one Roxane Weary, our sarcastic, intelligent, bisexual PI. This is the third book in Roxane's series, and I just love them all. You know how you can give your iPhone a name? Well, one of mine (I have one for work and one for personal use, okay) is named Roxane. This gritty PI has wormed her way into my heart. And I've said it before and I'll say it again--it's just so refreshing to have a bisexual character in mainstream fiction who is real. She's not a crazy person or a murderer, she's just a smart, complex character. The main character. And when Roxane is talking, it sounds like my own friends hanging out. It makes me happy.
"The state of straight people was troubling."
This book finds Roxane on a slightly personal quest, as her search for Addison gets real fast, once it looks like Andrew could be in some big time trouble. Her searching leads her to a shady nightclub--including its shifty manager--and some of Addison's suburban friends. We also, as mentioned, have a dead cop, meaning that Tom is in full force in this one. Tom is the former partner of Roxane's late father, and Roxane's old flame. I'm happy to report that there's plenty happening in Roxane's personal life--both with Catherine and Tom. Lots of sexual tension and witty banter on a variety of fronts. (And I am the only one who would be perfectly fine if Catherine just disappeared? Roxane deserves someone who treats her properly.)
Anyway, despite a cast of recurring characters, this one will standalone just fine. That being said, if you haven't read the first two books, I highly recommend them. The conversational first-person style Lepionka uses for Roxane is amazing and draws you in from the start. I adore Roxane's voice. (Partially because I deem her my kindred spirit--see below.)
"Apparently he was one of those people who listened to and deleted messages instead of just reading the transcription and ignoring it like I did."
Roxane is a witty, awesome, complex main character, and she's nearly impossible not to love. The story itself is dark and twisted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. No gimmicks, just a good mystery. There's lots of humor, lots of surprises, and lots of Roxane, one of the best PIs around. 4.5 stars.
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Lover by Taylor Swift in Music
Sep 2, 2019
Taylor Swift is an iconic singer-songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Not too long ago, she released a charming music video for her âLoverâ single.
âLadies and gentlemen, will you please stand? With every guitar string scar on my hand. I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover. My heartâs been borrowed and yours has been blue. Allâs well that ends well to end up with you. Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover. And youâll save all your dirtiest jokes for me. And at every table, Iâll save you a seat, lover.â â lyrics
The imaginative music video, directed by Drew Kirsch & Taylor Swift, showcases the ups and downs of a budding relationship.
Also, the audiovisual features Swift and her lover inside a life-sized dollhouse located within a giant snow globe.
Each decorated room, painted a different color, finds the couple wearing matching outfits which synchronizes their energy within each room.
âLoverâ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and sugar-sweet melodies. Also, the endearing tune possesses lush instrumentation scented with a nostalgic pop aroma.â
Taylor Swiftâs âLoverâ single tells a romantic tale of a young woman who is head-over-heels in love with her significant other.
Apparently, theyâve been together for three summers, but every day feels brand new, like the first day they met.
If the woman could have it her way, she and her sweetheart would be together forever until the end of time. If thatâs the case, sheâll be more than happy to be by her loverâs side.
âHave I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?â
âI think that with this album, the word lover encompasses like someone who possesses the ability to make you feel all the ranges of emotion that you have, you know. Because when people say like: âWe just donât have that sparkâ, what theyâre talking about thatâs missing is the element that Iâm singing about on this album. If that makes sense to you.â â Taylor Swift via Elvis Duran Show.
âLoverâ is the third song and title track on Swiftâs highly-anticipated seventh studio album.
The 18-track project also contains the lead single, entitled, âME!â, featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco.
ââME!â is a song about embracing your individuality and really celebrating it, and owning it. I think that with a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody stuck in peopleâs heads, and I want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves.â â Taylor Swift, with Robin Roberts
âME!â tells an interesting tale of a young woman who tells her beau that he will never find another woman who will love him like how she does.
Apparently, he feels the exact same way. Therefore, he promises that she will never find another man as awesome as he is.
Taylor Swift reveals her favorite scene in âLoverâ video
âLoverâ secured the #1 spot on the US iTunes charts on its first day of being released.
This monumental accomplishment extended Taylor Swiftâs record as the female with the most #1 songs on US iTunes.
âThis album is very much a celebration of love, in all its complexity, coziness, and chaos. Itâs the first album of mine that Iâve ever owned, and I couldnât be more proud.â â Taylor Swift
âLadies and gentlemen, will you please stand? With every guitar string scar on my hand. I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover. My heartâs been borrowed and yours has been blue. Allâs well that ends well to end up with you. Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover. And youâll save all your dirtiest jokes for me. And at every table, Iâll save you a seat, lover.â â lyrics
The imaginative music video, directed by Drew Kirsch & Taylor Swift, showcases the ups and downs of a budding relationship.
Also, the audiovisual features Swift and her lover inside a life-sized dollhouse located within a giant snow globe.
Each decorated room, painted a different color, finds the couple wearing matching outfits which synchronizes their energy within each room.
âLoverâ contains a relatable storyline, ear-welcoming vocals, and sugar-sweet melodies. Also, the endearing tune possesses lush instrumentation scented with a nostalgic pop aroma.â
Taylor Swiftâs âLoverâ single tells a romantic tale of a young woman who is head-over-heels in love with her significant other.
Apparently, theyâve been together for three summers, but every day feels brand new, like the first day they met.
If the woman could have it her way, she and her sweetheart would be together forever until the end of time. If thatâs the case, sheâll be more than happy to be by her loverâs side.
âHave I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?â
âI think that with this album, the word lover encompasses like someone who possesses the ability to make you feel all the ranges of emotion that you have, you know. Because when people say like: âWe just donât have that sparkâ, what theyâre talking about thatâs missing is the element that Iâm singing about on this album. If that makes sense to you.â â Taylor Swift via Elvis Duran Show.
âLoverâ is the third song and title track on Swiftâs highly-anticipated seventh studio album.
The 18-track project also contains the lead single, entitled, âME!â, featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco.
ââME!â is a song about embracing your individuality and really celebrating it, and owning it. I think that with a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody stuck in peopleâs heads, and I want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves.â â Taylor Swift, with Robin Roberts
âME!â tells an interesting tale of a young woman who tells her beau that he will never find another woman who will love him like how she does.
Apparently, he feels the exact same way. Therefore, he promises that she will never find another man as awesome as he is.
Taylor Swift reveals her favorite scene in âLoverâ video
âLoverâ secured the #1 spot on the US iTunes charts on its first day of being released.
This monumental accomplishment extended Taylor Swiftâs record as the female with the most #1 songs on US iTunes.
âThis album is very much a celebration of love, in all its complexity, coziness, and chaos. Itâs the first album of mine that Iâve ever owned, and I couldnât be more proud.â â Taylor Swift
Becs (244 KP) rated Stars Like Fate in Books
Oct 2, 2019
Highlights: I loved the cover design, it helped give an idea of what Nyole looked like. I wish there were pictures of the other characters, like as a gallery at the back of the book. It was nice of the author to put a character list and their pronunciation at the beginning of the book. It helped tremendously!!
Style: Casual to light
Point of View: Third person
Difficulty reading: First couple of chapters were difficult to get into but after the fifth chapter, I couldnât put the book down! It has itâs fast-paced moments that has you flipping through pages and it has its slower moments that take a bit more effort to get into. A very fun read!
Promise: The book promised a fantasy, adventure packed book and it delivered it on a silver platter. The characters are mythical, the countries are mythical, and magic is involved â leading to the fantasy aspect of things. Nyole and Saphryis both go on a long and heartbreaking journey to gain Saphryis her memories and power back â leading to the adventure aspect of things.
Quality: An all-around great book. If you like World of Warcraft, youâll like this book. It touches on the mythical creatures in a way that resembles characters in World of Warcraft.
Insights: I loved the fact that it was a fantasy young adult book. These types of books are one of my favorite genres. When I first got the book, I read the synopsis and instantly thought of World of Warcraft. Reading, I had a difficult time with the first five chapters. It wasnât that they were bad, it was more along the lines of they lacked in the background and the flow seemed like it was all over the place. Once I hit chapter six though, I couldnât put the book down. The background and plot leveled out so it was a much easier read. As I was coming down to the last couple of chapters, I realized I didnât want it to end. I wanted it to continue on into an everlasting void of Stars Like Fate because fate is simply ineffable.
Ah-Ha Moment: When Nyole finally realized that he was related to King Aryon. I would also become furious if I was related to someone as cruel as King Aryon the murderer.
Favorite Quote: âFate is unexplainable, Fate is unfair, but Fate will always happen.â â Nyole realizes that if he never would have met Saphryis, then he would have never known what was coming in the future. But with meeting her, he realizes what is coming and has a faint idea what Saphryis will mean to him.
â âI need you to live, Saphryis. I need you around,â Nyole murmured before adding a selfish wish. âI want you beside me.â â â I feel this is the moment that Nyole falls just a bit in love with Saphryis. Which is good, because I ship them 110%.
What will you gain: A love for a new and upcoming author with an imaginative world that you can just step right into. Plus an awesome book worth a re-read!
Aesthetics: Cover design was really nice, character list was great, nice size book â not too heavy and not to thin, font and size was good â didnât strain the eyes, there were a few grammatical errors â but are barely noticeable, third-person point of view, a riveting action fantasy book that will keep you on your toes.
âFate is simply ineffable.â
Style: Casual to light
Point of View: Third person
Difficulty reading: First couple of chapters were difficult to get into but after the fifth chapter, I couldnât put the book down! It has itâs fast-paced moments that has you flipping through pages and it has its slower moments that take a bit more effort to get into. A very fun read!
Promise: The book promised a fantasy, adventure packed book and it delivered it on a silver platter. The characters are mythical, the countries are mythical, and magic is involved â leading to the fantasy aspect of things. Nyole and Saphryis both go on a long and heartbreaking journey to gain Saphryis her memories and power back â leading to the adventure aspect of things.
Quality: An all-around great book. If you like World of Warcraft, youâll like this book. It touches on the mythical creatures in a way that resembles characters in World of Warcraft.
Insights: I loved the fact that it was a fantasy young adult book. These types of books are one of my favorite genres. When I first got the book, I read the synopsis and instantly thought of World of Warcraft. Reading, I had a difficult time with the first five chapters. It wasnât that they were bad, it was more along the lines of they lacked in the background and the flow seemed like it was all over the place. Once I hit chapter six though, I couldnât put the book down. The background and plot leveled out so it was a much easier read. As I was coming down to the last couple of chapters, I realized I didnât want it to end. I wanted it to continue on into an everlasting void of Stars Like Fate because fate is simply ineffable.
Ah-Ha Moment: When Nyole finally realized that he was related to King Aryon. I would also become furious if I was related to someone as cruel as King Aryon the murderer.
Favorite Quote: âFate is unexplainable, Fate is unfair, but Fate will always happen.â â Nyole realizes that if he never would have met Saphryis, then he would have never known what was coming in the future. But with meeting her, he realizes what is coming and has a faint idea what Saphryis will mean to him.
â âI need you to live, Saphryis. I need you around,â Nyole murmured before adding a selfish wish. âI want you beside me.â â â I feel this is the moment that Nyole falls just a bit in love with Saphryis. Which is good, because I ship them 110%.
What will you gain: A love for a new and upcoming author with an imaginative world that you can just step right into. Plus an awesome book worth a re-read!
Aesthetics: Cover design was really nice, character list was great, nice size book â not too heavy and not to thin, font and size was good â didnât strain the eyes, there were a few grammatical errors â but are barely noticeable, third-person point of view, a riveting action fantasy book that will keep you on your toes.
âFate is simply ineffable.â
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Kristy H (1252 KP) Jul 1, 2019
ClareR (6230 KP) Jul 1, 2019