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ClareR (5885 KP) rated Dear Edward in Books
Mar 8, 2020
A sad, yet life affirming novel.
Dear Edward is a beautiful book, and I suppose I should give a ‘you’ll need a handkerchief’ warning from the off.
It tells the story of twelve year old Edward Adler and his survival of a plane crash that left 119 people dead, including his parents and his older brother. The story moves back and forth in time, where we learn more about some of those people who were on board the plane, and Edwards life post-crash.
In the present day, Edwards grief is all-consuming. He can’t bring himself to eat, or sleep in the room that was always meant to be for his Uncle John and Aunt Laceys baby - she is unable to carry a baby beyond a few weeks, so the bedroom feels like a symbol of her serial losses.
Shay, the girl who lives next door with her mother, seems to be the person who holds Edward together. He sleeps on the floor of her bedroom for a long time, until Shays mother decides that it’s no longer appropriate. So Shay helps Edward prepare the basement of his aunt and uncles house as his bedroom.
Edward has to go through so many huge changes after the crash, and I really felt so much sadness for him. Even just going to school after always being homeschooled must have been a huge hurdle for him to get over, but there were also all of the other firsts that he had to overcome.
The title of the book refers to the letters that Edward and Shay find. The letters have been written by the friends and families of the plane crash victims, and Edwards uncle has hidden them from him. And with good reason. These are the letters of the grieving. They all seem to want something of Edward: to live a certain way, to take up a hobby, to do a certain job. There is no way he can do all of these things, and as 15 year olds, he and Shay realise this. As a 12 year old, he never would have, and it would have no doubt overwhelmed him.
I absolutely loved this book. It drew me in to the story of Edward, and I honestly felt bereft at the end of it. It’s undeniably sad, but it’s also life affirming, and I really liked how something so tragic could ultimately have such a positive outcome.
So if you pick this book up, read the back, then put it down again thinking that it’ll be too depressing, I’d just like to encourage you to give it a go. It’s a book well worth reading.
It tells the story of twelve year old Edward Adler and his survival of a plane crash that left 119 people dead, including his parents and his older brother. The story moves back and forth in time, where we learn more about some of those people who were on board the plane, and Edwards life post-crash.
In the present day, Edwards grief is all-consuming. He can’t bring himself to eat, or sleep in the room that was always meant to be for his Uncle John and Aunt Laceys baby - she is unable to carry a baby beyond a few weeks, so the bedroom feels like a symbol of her serial losses.
Shay, the girl who lives next door with her mother, seems to be the person who holds Edward together. He sleeps on the floor of her bedroom for a long time, until Shays mother decides that it’s no longer appropriate. So Shay helps Edward prepare the basement of his aunt and uncles house as his bedroom.
Edward has to go through so many huge changes after the crash, and I really felt so much sadness for him. Even just going to school after always being homeschooled must have been a huge hurdle for him to get over, but there were also all of the other firsts that he had to overcome.
The title of the book refers to the letters that Edward and Shay find. The letters have been written by the friends and families of the plane crash victims, and Edwards uncle has hidden them from him. And with good reason. These are the letters of the grieving. They all seem to want something of Edward: to live a certain way, to take up a hobby, to do a certain job. There is no way he can do all of these things, and as 15 year olds, he and Shay realise this. As a 12 year old, he never would have, and it would have no doubt overwhelmed him.
I absolutely loved this book. It drew me in to the story of Edward, and I honestly felt bereft at the end of it. It’s undeniably sad, but it’s also life affirming, and I really liked how something so tragic could ultimately have such a positive outcome.
So if you pick this book up, read the back, then put it down again thinking that it’ll be too depressing, I’d just like to encourage you to give it a go. It’s a book well worth reading.
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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Last Letter from Your Lover (2021) in Movies
Sep 5, 2021
Having missed the Unlimited Screening of this I was having to endure constant enthusiasm of a certain moviegoer until I'd seen it, but even then it didn't quite stop.
When Ellie discovers a random love letter while searching the archives for assignment, it sets in motion a hunt for more letters. With each letter the mystery unfolds and Ellie's life changes with every heartfelt sentence.
This is based on a Jojo Moyes book (that as usual, I haven't read), and I believe that traditionally that means gut-wrenching feels?
A modern day love story that evolves around a love story of letters. As tales of romance go, this is a very compelling one. I understand that the film has been stripped back from the novel (as you'd expect), and from what I've heard about what's missing, it's probably done the film a favour by not getting bogged down in extra backstory.
Let's start at the beginning with Jennifer (played by Shailene Woodley). She's the perfect balance throughout the film, composed and demur, frantic and firey. And my god, I felt all of her emotions in every scene. Her performance was probably my favourite from the cast, especially when combined with Callum Turner as Anthony O'Hare.
The way the two of them interacted was compelling the whole way through, and the emotion felt so horribly real that I was bawling my eyes out. Turner's performance was understated but powerful... and it totally wrecked me.
Meanwhile, in the present, Ellie (Felicity Jones) and Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan) are discovering Jennifer and Anthony's hidden romance through letters uncovered in the archives where they work. These sections of the film gave me very strong vibes of Love Actually mixed with Last Christmas. On their own they were funny and cute moments, but I think the balance was just right. Any more of them and I'm not sure the film would have held quite the same appeal.
The historic scenes were beautiful, the settings, the costumes, absolutely stunning. It makes you nostalgic for a style that some of us have never even experienced.
As I said, I bawled my eyes out, but that wasn't how I felt all the way through. At the beginning of the film I was a little bored if I'm honest. I wasn't really getting along with what was happening, and I was a little annoyed that the first cut didn't clearly switch between past and present. But there was one point that had me sold, my heart was in my throat and the tears started... and I'm not convinced they stopped until the credits rolled.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-last-letter-from-your-lover-movie.html
When Ellie discovers a random love letter while searching the archives for assignment, it sets in motion a hunt for more letters. With each letter the mystery unfolds and Ellie's life changes with every heartfelt sentence.
This is based on a Jojo Moyes book (that as usual, I haven't read), and I believe that traditionally that means gut-wrenching feels?
A modern day love story that evolves around a love story of letters. As tales of romance go, this is a very compelling one. I understand that the film has been stripped back from the novel (as you'd expect), and from what I've heard about what's missing, it's probably done the film a favour by not getting bogged down in extra backstory.
Let's start at the beginning with Jennifer (played by Shailene Woodley). She's the perfect balance throughout the film, composed and demur, frantic and firey. And my god, I felt all of her emotions in every scene. Her performance was probably my favourite from the cast, especially when combined with Callum Turner as Anthony O'Hare.
The way the two of them interacted was compelling the whole way through, and the emotion felt so horribly real that I was bawling my eyes out. Turner's performance was understated but powerful... and it totally wrecked me.
Meanwhile, in the present, Ellie (Felicity Jones) and Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan) are discovering Jennifer and Anthony's hidden romance through letters uncovered in the archives where they work. These sections of the film gave me very strong vibes of Love Actually mixed with Last Christmas. On their own they were funny and cute moments, but I think the balance was just right. Any more of them and I'm not sure the film would have held quite the same appeal.
The historic scenes were beautiful, the settings, the costumes, absolutely stunning. It makes you nostalgic for a style that some of us have never even experienced.
As I said, I bawled my eyes out, but that wasn't how I felt all the way through. At the beginning of the film I was a little bored if I'm honest. I wasn't really getting along with what was happening, and I was a little annoyed that the first cut didn't clearly switch between past and present. But there was one point that had me sold, my heart was in my throat and the tears started... and I'm not convinced they stopped until the credits rolled.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-last-letter-from-your-lover-movie.html
Amanda (96 KP) rated More Than We Can Tell (Letters to the Lost # 2) in Books
Mar 14, 2019
One of the things I don’t pay attention to when I read a book is if it is in a series. Most of the time I’ll catch it, but in this case, I didn’t know it was part of the LETTERS TO THE LOST verse. I didn’t catch it till the book REFERENCED a scene from that book. I adored LETTERS TO THE LOST. This book DID reference, but it is a stand alone story, so if you want to read it, you DO NOT have to read LETTERS TO THE LOST – although I HIGHLY recommend it.
Each chapter is told in separate POV’s
Rev Fletcher – He lives with his foster parents and is closed off due to physical torment from his highly religious nut father.
Emma Blue – Known as Azure M in her online game – She created this game and has made it public for other users to play, one user in particular is harassing her. Her parents are a different story. Her mother is a bit controlling while her father is more of a friend who designs video games.
This book, for starters, totally DID NOT use one of my least favorite tropes and have non existent parents in a world where it’s teenagers telling this story. Kudos for giving parents roles of being parents – with the exception of Emma’s father. He doesn’t really play the role of father, and it kind of makes it known in the story, which is fine with me.
Emma keeps this new game she created to herself mostly because her mother has tried to get her away from games, going as far as turning off the internet. See, if I were trying to do that, I would have taken the router/modem with me as well, not just unplugged it. That’s just me. She finds comfort in not only an online friend she made called, ETHAN, but also when she meets REV outside a church.
Rev has his own baggage. His father gave up his parental rights, and now, he’s emailing Rev and basically stirring up old resentment, but also feelings of wanting to please his father. I feel bad for Rev and I can’t even get frustrated with him when he completely shuts down even though his best friend tries to get him to talk and help him.
Emma was being stubborn, although most times I can understand with her mother, but when things escalate between her and ETHAN (and I mean they ESCALATED!) I wanted to just shake her for being so…stupid.
It is NEVER OKAY to not at least be supportive of your friend’s interest, even if you don’t find it all that interesting – just saying.
Despite a few annoyances, some from Emma and her mother, but also Rev on some occasions, I actually enjoyed this book. I liked how this story unraveled and how that while it’s told from another verse, it’s still a book by itself. I’m left with more questions than answers. I like how the author didn’t use one of my least favorite tropes even though she could have. I wind up really liking Emma’s mother and she has put up with A LOT – so it was nice seeing how Emma actually TRIES to let her mother into her life, even if there are still baby steps to be made.
Rev realizes that his father, despite being this man who tortured, he is just a man.
It was an enjoyable read with a couple of twists that maybe I should have seen coming, but I didn’t. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, however. You really get a sense of where Rev lives and his adoptive parents.
I won’t give away anymore than LETTERS TO THE LOST is worth the read. If anything, just so you can get all excited like I did when it’s referenced in this book.
Each chapter is told in separate POV’s
Rev Fletcher – He lives with his foster parents and is closed off due to physical torment from his highly religious nut father.
Emma Blue – Known as Azure M in her online game – She created this game and has made it public for other users to play, one user in particular is harassing her. Her parents are a different story. Her mother is a bit controlling while her father is more of a friend who designs video games.
This book, for starters, totally DID NOT use one of my least favorite tropes and have non existent parents in a world where it’s teenagers telling this story. Kudos for giving parents roles of being parents – with the exception of Emma’s father. He doesn’t really play the role of father, and it kind of makes it known in the story, which is fine with me.
Emma keeps this new game she created to herself mostly because her mother has tried to get her away from games, going as far as turning off the internet. See, if I were trying to do that, I would have taken the router/modem with me as well, not just unplugged it. That’s just me. She finds comfort in not only an online friend she made called, ETHAN, but also when she meets REV outside a church.
Rev has his own baggage. His father gave up his parental rights, and now, he’s emailing Rev and basically stirring up old resentment, but also feelings of wanting to please his father. I feel bad for Rev and I can’t even get frustrated with him when he completely shuts down even though his best friend tries to get him to talk and help him.
Emma was being stubborn, although most times I can understand with her mother, but when things escalate between her and ETHAN (and I mean they ESCALATED!) I wanted to just shake her for being so…stupid.
It is NEVER OKAY to not at least be supportive of your friend’s interest, even if you don’t find it all that interesting – just saying.
Despite a few annoyances, some from Emma and her mother, but also Rev on some occasions, I actually enjoyed this book. I liked how this story unraveled and how that while it’s told from another verse, it’s still a book by itself. I’m left with more questions than answers. I like how the author didn’t use one of my least favorite tropes even though she could have. I wind up really liking Emma’s mother and she has put up with A LOT – so it was nice seeing how Emma actually TRIES to let her mother into her life, even if there are still baby steps to be made.
Rev realizes that his father, despite being this man who tortured, he is just a man.
It was an enjoyable read with a couple of twists that maybe I should have seen coming, but I didn’t. I don’t think that’s a bad thing, however. You really get a sense of where Rev lives and his adoptive parents.
I won’t give away anymore than LETTERS TO THE LOST is worth the read. If anything, just so you can get all excited like I did when it’s referenced in this book.
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2357 KP) rated Moriarty Returns a Letter (Baker Street Letters, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The latest case for brothers Reggie and Nigel Heath solves a mystery 100 years in the making. When Reggie goes to set up a display of the some the letters written to Holmes over the years, he accidentally lets out a secret people will kill to keep quiet. Can he figure out what it is?
While playing with the Holmes lore, this series is different from the famous stories. Still, it's very fun. We know most of what is going on early, but watching to see if our heroes can figure it out kept the pages turning. I love the characters, too, which helps.
While book 4, this one heavily follows book 2 and spoils much of that one, so make sure you've read it before jumping in here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-moriarty-returns-letter-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While playing with the Holmes lore, this series is different from the famous stories. Still, it's very fun. We know most of what is going on early, but watching to see if our heroes can figure it out kept the pages turning. I love the characters, too, which helps.
While book 4, this one heavily follows book 2 and spoils much of that one, so make sure you've read it before jumping in here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/02/book-review-moriarty-returns-letter-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.