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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Disjointed Lives in Books
Jul 20, 2018
An unexpected gem
I won a copy of this in a Smashbomb giveaway (thank you @Smashbomb!) and am now giving my entirely honest and unbiased review.
This is the first time ive read any of Morgan Sheppard’s work, and I can safely say that I will be doing again going forwards. I read this in its entirety on a very long and tedious train journey for work, and I can honestly say it really brightened up my commute!
This is only a short story, but it is very well written with a surprisingly simple premise. On the surface the premise seems almost too basic, but it really works. It’s surprising how effective and interesting a story about someone reciting their past can be. The two main characters are likeable and relatable and I’m sure most readers would recognise parts of themselves in this. The situation and story itself has a lot of relevance to relationships and today’s society.
I do have a couple of criticisms but these are pretty minor. One issue is some of the dialogue comes across as a little stilted and awkward and doesn’t flow quite as well as a normal real life conversation would. My other criticism actually has a massive compliment wrapped up in it - this story is far too short! I enjoyed reading this very much and wasn’t happy when it ended as I wanted more and would happily have read more. I feel like this could have been made into a much longer and more detailed story and it still could’ve been just as good. There’s a lot of potential here!
This is the first time ive read any of Morgan Sheppard’s work, and I can safely say that I will be doing again going forwards. I read this in its entirety on a very long and tedious train journey for work, and I can honestly say it really brightened up my commute!
This is only a short story, but it is very well written with a surprisingly simple premise. On the surface the premise seems almost too basic, but it really works. It’s surprising how effective and interesting a story about someone reciting their past can be. The two main characters are likeable and relatable and I’m sure most readers would recognise parts of themselves in this. The situation and story itself has a lot of relevance to relationships and today’s society.
I do have a couple of criticisms but these are pretty minor. One issue is some of the dialogue comes across as a little stilted and awkward and doesn’t flow quite as well as a normal real life conversation would. My other criticism actually has a massive compliment wrapped up in it - this story is far too short! I enjoyed reading this very much and wasn’t happy when it ended as I wanted more and would happily have read more. I feel like this could have been made into a much longer and more detailed story and it still could’ve been just as good. There’s a lot of potential here!
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated War Stories: New Military Science Fiction in Books
Jan 12, 2018
As a military fiction fan and a sci fi fan this was the best of both worlds in one. I loved how most of the stories were from either a LBGT perspective or a female one. Also the various views of war from authors(and in a lot of cases) soldiers from not only different branches but different countries. There were one or two stories that were very difficult to read because their wordiness caused them to be pretentious and drag on(one in particular). Over all though I would recommend this book and would like to see some authors turn the short stories into full length books.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Go Set A Watchman in Books
Sep 13, 2017
Crushing and disappointing
DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU LOVE TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
That being said, the reason why Harper Lee completely falls short in this novel is the fact that she destroys the heroic images of the characters that we have grown to love.
Without saying more, once again this novel is written in the perspective of Scout who is now a young woman and much more independent and vocal about the civil rights movement. She learns that everything she loved and respected is actually very different to what she imagined, pulling down heroes from their pedestals.
I'm totally scarred reading this.
That being said, the reason why Harper Lee completely falls short in this novel is the fact that she destroys the heroic images of the characters that we have grown to love.
Without saying more, once again this novel is written in the perspective of Scout who is now a young woman and much more independent and vocal about the civil rights movement. She learns that everything she loved and respected is actually very different to what she imagined, pulling down heroes from their pedestals.
I'm totally scarred reading this.
This collection of 13 short stories finds Phryne solving several murders as well as a few other crimes. Set in Australia in 1928, Phryne is a strong woman with lots of intelligence to solve some pretty strange puzzles.
This was my introduction to the character, and I do feel I missed some things not know more about her background and the rest of the obviously recurring characters. However, I did enjoy the stories since they provided good puzzles. Phryne is a really smart detective, and the trip back in time was fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-review-question-of-death.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This was my introduction to the character, and I do feel I missed some things not know more about her background and the rest of the obviously recurring characters. However, I did enjoy the stories since they provided good puzzles. Phryne is a really smart detective, and the trip back in time was fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-review-question-of-death.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Time Machine in Books
Mar 23, 2018
I surprisingly enjoyed this book. I have tried reading one of Wells' books before and just couldn't get into it. This one shocked me. There are a lot of really cool theories about the future of the world with a great about of creepiness in it. I would recommend this to people who only have a short amount of time to read a book because this is only really 71 pages of novel, the rest are essays. The characters, though they did not really do much, were all pretty interesting. Look out for the light imagery throughout the novel, because there is a lot!
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Elizabeth is Missing in Books
Jun 21, 2019
Lovely wee story
The novel is told from the perspective of Maude, a lady in her 80's with dementia. The reader experiences the frustration that the protagonist feels because of her poor short term memory, yet there is this brilliant back story. Yes, Elizabeth is missing, but so is Sukie, Maude's big sister who disappeared when they were both young. Switching between the present and the past enhances the story, showing how certain triggers can support long term memory in dementia patients. Lovely wee story. Brilliant gripping beginning, a bit slow in the middle and great ending. Worth a read.
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Lifted Veil in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The Lifted Veil is a novella or short story by George Eliot. The story is told by Latimer, who has just been told he has not much longer to live, and looks back on the events of his earlier life. What makes this story slightly unusual, at least taking into acount the time it was written, is that Latimer seems to suffer from some sort of illness and this may or may not be related to his ability to read the emotions and/or thoughts of other people. This ability is the lifted veil of the title. It's not a cheery, happy-ending feel-good story, but it is interesting.
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Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated A Vampire's Christmas Carol in Books
Sep 5, 2019
*I received this book from the author*
For such a short story, it was really good. It threw in a couple of surprises along the way too, which is something the author is really good at doing.
It was great using the idea of Dickens' Christmas Carol to write a vampire's life. The past, when he was turned and caused the death of his girlfriend, to the present where he's about to do something that will change him forever, to the future where he's shocked by the bad things that might happen because of him.
Really liked it. Thank you, Cynthia, for the chance to read it :)
For such a short story, it was really good. It threw in a couple of surprises along the way too, which is something the author is really good at doing.
It was great using the idea of Dickens' Christmas Carol to write a vampire's life. The past, when he was turned and caused the death of his girlfriend, to the present where he's about to do something that will change him forever, to the future where he's shocked by the bad things that might happen because of him.
Really liked it. Thank you, Cynthia, for the chance to read it :)