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I think there is always a case for choosing a book based purely on the cover. This is another of those times where I’ve done precisely that - and I loved this book.
Fragile is a haunting thriller, where two young people, Nell and Joe, run away to London from their foster home after a tragic event. An event that we’re drip fed the information of as the book progresses.
Joe and Nell become separated, so Nell decides to go and knock on the door of the last place she saw him. When Dr. Robin Wilder opens the door at Starling Villa, Nell manages to talk him into employing her as his housekeeper. But all is not as it seems. Is Nell really safe here? What happened in Wales before she ran away to London with Joe? What does Dr. Wilders wife want with Nell? And where is Joe?
Nell and Joe’s backstories about their lives in care are heartbreaking. From a young age, Nell becomes the house ‘mother’, cleaner and cook. It’s a horrible life for her and so well described. Joe’s life isn’t any better.
Actually, the writing is so descriptive: people and places are described picture perfectly, and some scenes are so emotive, whilst others are really tense. The gripping finale was heartbreaking.
Sarah Hilary is a new author to me, and one that I’ll certainly look out for in future.
Fragile is a haunting thriller, where two young people, Nell and Joe, run away to London from their foster home after a tragic event. An event that we’re drip fed the information of as the book progresses.
Joe and Nell become separated, so Nell decides to go and knock on the door of the last place she saw him. When Dr. Robin Wilder opens the door at Starling Villa, Nell manages to talk him into employing her as his housekeeper. But all is not as it seems. Is Nell really safe here? What happened in Wales before she ran away to London with Joe? What does Dr. Wilders wife want with Nell? And where is Joe?
Nell and Joe’s backstories about their lives in care are heartbreaking. From a young age, Nell becomes the house ‘mother’, cleaner and cook. It’s a horrible life for her and so well described. Joe’s life isn’t any better.
Actually, the writing is so descriptive: people and places are described picture perfectly, and some scenes are so emotive, whilst others are really tense. The gripping finale was heartbreaking.
Sarah Hilary is a new author to me, and one that I’ll certainly look out for in future.
ClareR (6106 KP) rated The Ghost Theatre in Books
Sep 10, 2023
The Ghost Theatre was one of those books that had me heading straight to Google. I was looking up “Aviscultan religion”. It doesn’t actually exist, but it sounds like it should.
Shay is an Aviscultan, but she is distracted from her home and way of life when she meets Nonesuch and his fellow young thespians at the Blackfriars theatre. She falls in love with him, neglects her failing, blind father, and eventually becomes something of a celebrity when she uses her ability to predict the future for Queen Elizabeth I. Soon, all wealthy Londoners want to see her, and the owner of Blackfriars theatre realises he can make some serious money out of Shay.
This is an exciting story with lots of running-across-rooftops-action, but I thought the real magic was in the descriptions of the narrow London streets, the smells, sights, the people and the animals. The descriptions of the birds, especially that of Devana, Shays falcon friend, truly expressed the wonder and reverence that Shay and her fellow Aviscultans had for all birds - and frankly, I can’t see what would be bad about a belief such as this!
The fact that a rebellion could be stoked by a guerrilla theatre group - a Ghost Theatre - showed the power of art, theatre and stories.
This is a mesmerising book; I was completely immersed in the birds, the magic and the dark London streets. And I didn’t want it to end.
Highly recommended.
Shay is an Aviscultan, but she is distracted from her home and way of life when she meets Nonesuch and his fellow young thespians at the Blackfriars theatre. She falls in love with him, neglects her failing, blind father, and eventually becomes something of a celebrity when she uses her ability to predict the future for Queen Elizabeth I. Soon, all wealthy Londoners want to see her, and the owner of Blackfriars theatre realises he can make some serious money out of Shay.
This is an exciting story with lots of running-across-rooftops-action, but I thought the real magic was in the descriptions of the narrow London streets, the smells, sights, the people and the animals. The descriptions of the birds, especially that of Devana, Shays falcon friend, truly expressed the wonder and reverence that Shay and her fellow Aviscultans had for all birds - and frankly, I can’t see what would be bad about a belief such as this!
The fact that a rebellion could be stoked by a guerrilla theatre group - a Ghost Theatre - showed the power of art, theatre and stories.
This is a mesmerising book; I was completely immersed in the birds, the magic and the dark London streets. And I didn’t want it to end.
Highly recommended.
Soul Sisters
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Soul Sisters by Lesley Lokko is a rich, intergenerational tale of love, race, power and secrets...
Historical fiction South Africa Edinburgh London
National Rail Enquiries: Train journey planner
Navigation and Travel
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Stay on track with the free National Rail Enquiries App, Great Britain’s number one destination...
ClareR (6106 KP) rated The End We Start From in Books
Nov 12, 2017
A disturbing, distressing look at ecological disaster.
This is such a good book, but also deeply disturbing. Set during an environmental disaster, initially set in London, then Scotland in a refugee camp.
The way it's written reflects the shock and despair of the main character - sparse and disjointed. Time moves in a strange way (which will be interesting to see how this will be handled if it makes it to the big screen).
This is well worth a read, but make sure you're mentally in a good place first! The whole book made me feel uncomfortable, and there is no happy ending. Call me odd, but that's the kind of book that I really enjoy!
The way it's written reflects the shock and despair of the main character - sparse and disjointed. Time moves in a strange way (which will be interesting to see how this will be handled if it makes it to the big screen).
This is well worth a read, but make sure you're mentally in a good place first! The whole book made me feel uncomfortable, and there is no happy ending. Call me odd, but that's the kind of book that I really enjoy!
tonidavis (353 KP) rated Wonder Woman (2017) in Movies
Jun 29, 2017
Gal Gadot (1 more)
Amazon Opening Scence
I want to be an Amazon
The opening of this film was spectacular. the use of athletes as amazon was genious and worked better than anything CGI could produce. I truley was excited by this film and then they left the Island.
Unfortunely I found the middle to be far to long didnt feel a great connection between Diana and Steve on boat or in London. Honestly if those scence where a lot shorter I would of given this film a 10/10. however they kept the length and for me it ruined the film. The last half hour was great and the opening was stunning.
Unfortunely I found the middle to be far to long didnt feel a great connection between Diana and Steve on boat or in London. Honestly if those scence where a lot shorter I would of given this film a 10/10. however they kept the length and for me it ruined the film. The last half hour was great and the opening was stunning.
Key (10 KP) rated The Night Watch in Books
Sep 8, 2017
'Tender and tragic, set against the turbulent backdrop of wartime Britain'
This is my absolute favourite book, so I'm likely to be biased. The characters feel like real people, and their experiences and thoughts feel as palpable as your own. Let this book sweep you through love and heartbreak, enveloped by war-torn 40s London. The unusual plot layout of this book (moving backwards through time, starting at the end and finishing at the start) may be confusing at the first read, but provides dramatic irony which is integral to the book's brilliance.
The Craggus (360 KP) rated Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) in Movies
May 13, 2019
It wants to be the very best, like no video game movie ever was. To watch it is the real test, to review it is my cause! Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) #Review
The story is decent enough and although its main twists and turns are predictable enough, it still has a surprise or two up its sleeve and the whole thing is just a bundle of fun. The real delight, of course, is in spotting all your favourite Pokémon in the background, populating the neon-drenched yet conspicuously London-like streets of Ryme City and there’s plenty of humour mined from the various quirks and abilities of various Pokémon....
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusDetectivePikachu
FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusDetectivePikachu
Dana (24 KP) rated A Serious Proposal to the Ladies in Books
Mar 23, 2018
This was a very interesting read. It is a compilation of, primarily, two essays directed at the women of the Restoration and Revolution period in London, England. While it mainly speaks to women to be more free in their religions, it also talks about women's political freedoms. This seems to be an early feminist essay which calls to give women more power over their lives.
I did enjoy the first essay more than I did the second because the second got a lot more religious and quite repetitive. But it was still interesting.
If you are interested in early feminist lit or in religious literature, check this book out. I think you would thoroughly enjoy it.
I did enjoy the first essay more than I did the second because the second got a lot more religious and quite repetitive. But it was still interesting.
If you are interested in early feminist lit or in religious literature, check this book out. I think you would thoroughly enjoy it.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Eastern Promises (2007) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018
This is very similar to A Histroy of Violence with the same director (David Cronenberg) and Viggo Mortensen teaming up again. It is just as violent and possibly more bloody and graphic. The acting is of a very good standard and although it is a bit slow at times you are likely to be engrossed in the story too much to notice.
A midwife delivers the child of a young Russian girl who dies at birth. Trying to trace her relatives she gets her Russian uncle to translate her diary which only uncovers a look into the life of the Russian mafia in London. If you liked A History of Violence, The Godfather you should really like this film.
A midwife delivers the child of a young Russian girl who dies at birth. Trying to trace her relatives she gets her Russian uncle to translate her diary which only uncovers a look into the life of the Russian mafia in London. If you liked A History of Violence, The Godfather you should really like this film.