Pre-school English Learning phonics for kindergarten kids & child
Education and Games
App
Pre-school English Learning phonics for kids is designed for beginning English learners and is aimed...
Basic Hausa
Education and Travel
App
Basic Hausa is the #1 iPhone and iPad app on the App Store that uses everyday words and phrases to...
Sygic Iberia: GPS Navigation
Navigation and Travel
App
ON SALE NOW ► Sygic Europe for 29,99 EUR THE MOST DOWNLOADED OFFLINE NAVIGATION APP IN THE...
Cullen IELTS 7+
Education and Games
App
This app will help you to: increase your vocabulary for the IELTS writing and speaking tests; learn...
Mimpi Dreams
Games and Entertainment
App
50% off for a limited time as part of the App Store’s Children’s Day promotion! Selected by The...
Mapitare Maasto- ja Merikartta
Navigation and Productivity
App
Now you can try all the maps free for seven days! We offer following in-app purchases: Finland...
Sygic US: GPS Navigation
Navigation and Travel
App
ON SALE NOW ► Sygic North America for $39,99 THE MOST DOWNLOADED OFFLINE NAVIGATION APP IN THE...
Fitness Buddy for iPad : 1700+ Exercise Workout Journal
Health & Fitness and Lifestyle
App
The #1 downloaded fitness app on the iPhone is now available on the iPad! - As seen and...
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Vanishing of Margaret Small [Audiobook] in Books
Dec 18, 2022
![The Vanishing of Margaret Small [Audiobook]](/uploads/profile_image/292/07af28d6-184f-436e-a53d-a1ddb1c79292.jpg?m=1671380186)
I absolutely love Margaret ... what a likeable and strong character she is despite what she experienced in her young life. She has every reason to dislike her fellow human beings but she is much better person than most ... she is kind, thoughtful and understanding.
The book is told in two timelines, the past and the present.
The present: Margaret is 75 and living independently with the support of her excellent support worker Wayne. Margaret loves Cilla Black and she likes nothing more than listening to Cilla's autobiography but when she starts receiving notes and gifts from someone who signs them with "C", Margaret thinks Cilla is back from the dead but it can't be so who is it? The notes revive memories from Margaret's past.
The past: Margaret's story starts at 7 years old when she is "vanished" into a long-stay institution called St Mary's where she lives for the majority of her life. I won't say she is 'cared for' as what she endured is not care in any way, shape or form but Margaret endures it with innocent acceptance of knowing it's not right but being powerless to do anything about it. There are scenes which broke my heart but others that also warmed it.
Both timelines are equally captivating and enthralling but the past had me in bits at times at the cruelties of how children and adults who are "different" were treated but through it all, was the voice of Margaret who I can only describe as being a beautiful person.
I listened to the audiobook and I can highly recommend it; the narrators are just brilliant particularly the voice of Margaret ... oh my, she was brought to life for me; it was like she was sitting right next to me telling me her story myself ... just brilliant.
Margaret is a fictional character however, her story is based on the experiences of 'real' people the author has met during his working life which makes this book even more powerful and I must thank Bonnier UK Audio, Embla Books and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Vanishing of Margaret Small.
Merissa (12911 KP) rated Complicated (Secrets and Lies #2) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
Okay, so a bit about the characters now. Mia - I still can't get to grips with her. I don't particularly like hearing about her which makes the whole thing a bit difficult when it's written the way it is. Ethan - I actually liked him in the first book but I find myself not wanting them to be together more and more. Ethan spends most of this book making Mia feel guilty over lying to him when he is the one doing the same thing and more. You should not have to walk on eggshells around someone you love or be afraid to ask questions. Their relationship isn't healthy and I keep hoping that Mia will end up with Jackson, the playboy, who has an honest friendship with Mia that could turn into something else given the chance. Bri and Trey have their own hurdles to cross in this book but they tend to take the backseat to everything else.
A difficult book to read or review but I can still recommend it. It is certainly controversial enough to make it stand out from the crowd - you can decide if that's a good thing or not for yourself.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 28, 2015