Hazel (1853 KP) rated This Shining Life in Books
Feb 15, 2021
This Shining Life by Harriet Kline is a heartbreaking tale about a family coming to terms with death. Told from several people's point of view, Kline explores different portrayals of grief. Ollie's mum wants to stay in bed; his aunt wants life to carry on; his maternal grandmother tries to exert control; his paternal grandmother wishes she could understand her grandson; and his grandfather has no idea what is going on. No one has time for Ollie and his obsession with his puzzle.
Before Richard's death, Ollie dominated family life. Ollie had a strict routine, always had a few spare pairs of socks with him because he hated dirty ones, and had meltdowns if his parents used the "wrong" tone of voice. Without his familiar habits, Ollie's life was a mass of confusion - an apt metaphor for the grief the rest of the family experienced.
With a contemporary novel such as This Shining Life, there is no "happy ever after". People do not come back from the dead. There is no answer to the meaning of life. Grief is a long process and different for everyone. It causes depression, anger and confusion, but hidden under all these negative feelings is love.
Harriet Kline takes death and grief seriously but adds a touch of humour to the narrative for the reader's benefit. It is not a light read, nor is it markedly profound. Instead, This Shining Life is painfully honest, and for that reason, it is beautiful.
The Marinated Meeple (1853 KP) rated The Shining (1980) in Movies
May 10, 2018
Amy Louise Davison (118 KP) rated The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) in Movies
Mar 9, 2019
Logan Lerman is a very believable actor and from the beginning I am on his side, to do well, to succeed in love and life. I would have loved to be Charlie's friend.
Emma Watson in my opinion, is perfection personified. She plays Sam very well.
Paul Rudd plays Mr Anderson - and he is a shining star in this already amazing cast, downplayed and lovable.
Smashbomb (4687 KP) created a post in Friends of Smashbomb
May 22, 2019
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Horrorstör in Books
Oct 30, 2019
This book was just so much fun and had a really great balance when it came to the horror and comedy which for me just doesn't always come through when I'm reading books. But Grady Hendrix just really had a way with the genre. I bought this book first but ended up reading My Best Friends Exorcism first and that was also a great read.
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