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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Night Olivia Fell in Books
Mar 1, 2019
Not just a typical "mom seeks the truth about what happened to her daughter" book.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.
The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald could have just been a typical "mom seeks the truth about what happened to her daughter" book except it was not. Christina McDonald's writing makes you connect with the characters, root for Abi, a single mom whose entire life revolved around her daughter, Olivia, and makes it a "cannot put down" book.
Abi wakes in the middle of the night to hear every mother worst fear - her studious, sensible daughter had an accident. At the hospital she learns Olivia fell off a bridge, is braindead, and, oh yeah, she is pregnant. Abi's word turns upside down and she will not stop at anything to find out what happened that night on the bridge.
Using flashbacks McDonald flips back and forth between the present and the months leading up to Olivia's fall. This technique lets us see how in just a few months a person can change by keeping secrets and not letting others in.
I was not sure until the end of the story what really happened to Olivia. This is a suspenseful mystery that sucks you in from the very beginning.
I have added Christina McDonald to my "authors to read" list.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/1/19.
The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald could have just been a typical "mom seeks the truth about what happened to her daughter" book except it was not. Christina McDonald's writing makes you connect with the characters, root for Abi, a single mom whose entire life revolved around her daughter, Olivia, and makes it a "cannot put down" book.
Abi wakes in the middle of the night to hear every mother worst fear - her studious, sensible daughter had an accident. At the hospital she learns Olivia fell off a bridge, is braindead, and, oh yeah, she is pregnant. Abi's word turns upside down and she will not stop at anything to find out what happened that night on the bridge.
Using flashbacks McDonald flips back and forth between the present and the months leading up to Olivia's fall. This technique lets us see how in just a few months a person can change by keeping secrets and not letting others in.
I was not sure until the end of the story what really happened to Olivia. This is a suspenseful mystery that sucks you in from the very beginning.
I have added Christina McDonald to my "authors to read" list.
Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/1/19.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated Fractured (2019) in Movies
Jan 24, 2020
380. Fractured. The makers of this film finally figured out how to make a good Sam Worthington movie. Have him walk around totally confused due to a head injury for 95% of the movie! On the way back from the in-laws the Monroe family stop at small convenience store, and as they get ready to leave, daughter Peri is confronted by a mean ol junkyard dog, and when dad, Ray tries to help, well doesn't go so great. Father and daughter go tumbling down into what looks like a rather unsafe construction site. Ray whacks is head pretty hard, daughter Peri, appears to have more serious injuries. Mom, Joanne, coming from the restroom we assume, comes to help, they all pack in the car and off to the hospital they go. As the docs go to take Peri to go get checked out, only one more person can go with, so mom heads off with her. And that's the last time Ray see's them. He dozes off in the waiting room, to see the sun setting, wakes startled heads to the check in and asks about his daughter. Who? The hospital staff seem to remember Ray coming in alone, for a head injury. What? Let the paranoia begin! Directed by Brad Anderson, who also directed one of my fave movies Session 9, did a great job keeping Ray looking confused and with reason the entire movie, Sam Worthington's strong point, lol. I say go for it, fast paced, paranoia thriller... Filmbufftim on FB
So disappointed with this series. It could have been and should have been so much better., the premise was a great one.The two lead actors are well respected but were let down by bad ideas. John Sim's character can apparently "read" people better than "Lie to me's" Tim Roth. He then turns into some kind of psychopath in order to find the truth. I can understand a parent's need to want the truth but to go that far, I don't think so. He manages to firstly access the operating theatre, then get a job at the hospital and then enter a closed meeting all with ease. Then he hoodwinks the daughter and wife of the doctor to gain access to their house. The daughter apparently just stays upstairs whilst the mother is at knife-point downstairs, the mother does not back off even though he is brandishing a knife and then at the end the daughter is more angry with her father, cause of his lies, rather than the knife-wielding maniac that's just threatened them all? Just made me frustrated and annoyed. Grrr
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BookInspector (124 KP) rated Little White Lies in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The story is told from a dual perspective. Seven years ago Anne’s daughter disappeared, and now she has been found. Her daughter is a teenager now, so Anne needs to learn how to communicate with her again. Another person who is sharing the story is Jess, Abigail’s cousin sister, who was very close to her when they were both little. I think it was quite a strange character pick. I liked Anne’s thoughts in this book, she was lost, confused and kept fighting to get her daughter back, not this estranged child that she has found. But I didn’t really understand the need for Jess, she just kept repeating herself over and over again, not offering much to the book. I would have enjoyed the book more if Abigail shared her experiences and thoughts. That would’ve made the whole book more absorbing for me.
I really liked the way the author created the suspense in this novel. She kept building it up with very creative clues and mentions of some juicy details. I was absolutely engrossed to find out what this secret will be, and pretty disappointed when I found out what that “big” secret was.
I really liked the way the author created the suspense in this novel. She kept building it up with very creative clues and mentions of some juicy details. I was absolutely engrossed to find out what this secret will be, and pretty disappointed when I found out what that “big” secret was.