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MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated One Day in December: A Christmas Love Story in Books
Oct 1, 2018
I loved the idea of this book and it sounded just my perfect romance read. However it was so much more than I could have hoped for! I read it in one sitting and found the lovely sunny day had gone dark and wet by the time I moved from the sofa - but oh! what a day I had in the world of this amazingly beautiful love story!
The story is told over a ten year period, beginning in December 2008 which is where the Christmas part comes in. The story is told in sort of diary form from the characters perspectives and jumps many months at a time so you get the good bits whilst the story unfolds.
It sounded like it could be yet another love triangle with the obvious difficulties however it is so unlike anything I have read before. It is a book for all ages – no nasty double crossing, no detailed erotic sex scenes or nasty, bitchy comments we are so used to being part of daily lives – however, there are many tear-worthy moments in this absolutely wonderful true love story.
The author has found a way of telling a story in today’s times without having all the drama that we are so used to seeing in these types of situations. Everyone deals with events in a very mature way and forgiving way which ensures that whilst reading you can live in a feel-good bubble. I did plenty of bubbling while reading and many sharp intakes of breath at times too. It is a story of love, heartache, friendship and the unbreakable bonds.
I can honestly say I will be recommending this to everyone I speak to in person, on twitter, Facebook and anywhere else that I can. It’s amazingly beautiful – you really should go read it!
Thanks to Josie Silver, NetGalley and Penguin for giving me the opportunity to read and review prior to the paperback release in October 2018.
The story is told over a ten year period, beginning in December 2008 which is where the Christmas part comes in. The story is told in sort of diary form from the characters perspectives and jumps many months at a time so you get the good bits whilst the story unfolds.
It sounded like it could be yet another love triangle with the obvious difficulties however it is so unlike anything I have read before. It is a book for all ages – no nasty double crossing, no detailed erotic sex scenes or nasty, bitchy comments we are so used to being part of daily lives – however, there are many tear-worthy moments in this absolutely wonderful true love story.
The author has found a way of telling a story in today’s times without having all the drama that we are so used to seeing in these types of situations. Everyone deals with events in a very mature way and forgiving way which ensures that whilst reading you can live in a feel-good bubble. I did plenty of bubbling while reading and many sharp intakes of breath at times too. It is a story of love, heartache, friendship and the unbreakable bonds.
I can honestly say I will be recommending this to everyone I speak to in person, on twitter, Facebook and anywhere else that I can. It’s amazingly beautiful – you really should go read it!
Thanks to Josie Silver, NetGalley and Penguin for giving me the opportunity to read and review prior to the paperback release in October 2018.
A Songbird Novel Box Set #3 (Geronimo, Hole Hearted, Rather Be)
10.0
Rate It
Book
Melt your heart romance and sizzling chemistry infused with soul inspiring music. A set of...
BookInspector (124 KP) rated The Rules in Books
Sep 24, 2020
The protagonist of this book is Amber, a sarcastic teenager, who lost her mother and had to travel from one foster house to another. When her father contacts her, she knows she has to run… I really liked Amber, she is an absolute kickass, but she explained how much she had to go through to become one… I really admire her resilience and intelligence, she is a true fighter, even though very emotionally traumatised one. I really liked the variety of characters chosen for this book. Amber is raised by a control freak, so control and order is her safety blanket. Her travel companion Josh, on the other hand, is a free spirit, not very worried about life in general. I think he was a true ray of sunshine in this novel.
I really enjoyed the narrative of this book. The story has a single perspective but dual timeline, the events from the past portray Amber’s life when she was trained for survival, and her present journey, while she is trying to run away from her obsessive and controlling father. I really liked this combo, and I was able to learn so much from Amber and her survival skills. There are a lot of sensitive topics discussed in this novel, such as emotional and physical violence, homelessness, prepper and survivalist communities and their work, many mental health issues, psychological trauma, and many more. I really enjoyed the way this story was told, it was like a runaway story, but it was an adventure nevertheless.
I really liked the writing style, it is visible that the author has done a great job with the research for this novel, it offers such a wide variety of lessons for survival in general, that our screen-addicted youth could learn from. I enjoyed the constantly changing set of this novel, I found it pretty entertaining. The chapters are pretty short, and the pages just flew by to me. Even though this book left some unanswered questions for me, I really liked the ending of this book, I think it rounded up this story well.
So, to conclude, this is a very thought-provoking novel, filled with rules, discipline and really interesting and complex characters, that are different. I really liked the narrative and it was a true page-turner for me. If you are looking for an adventurous YA psychological thriller, I think this book is for you.
I really enjoyed the narrative of this book. The story has a single perspective but dual timeline, the events from the past portray Amber’s life when she was trained for survival, and her present journey, while she is trying to run away from her obsessive and controlling father. I really liked this combo, and I was able to learn so much from Amber and her survival skills. There are a lot of sensitive topics discussed in this novel, such as emotional and physical violence, homelessness, prepper and survivalist communities and their work, many mental health issues, psychological trauma, and many more. I really enjoyed the way this story was told, it was like a runaway story, but it was an adventure nevertheless.
I really liked the writing style, it is visible that the author has done a great job with the research for this novel, it offers such a wide variety of lessons for survival in general, that our screen-addicted youth could learn from. I enjoyed the constantly changing set of this novel, I found it pretty entertaining. The chapters are pretty short, and the pages just flew by to me. Even though this book left some unanswered questions for me, I really liked the ending of this book, I think it rounded up this story well.
So, to conclude, this is a very thought-provoking novel, filled with rules, discipline and really interesting and complex characters, that are different. I really liked the narrative and it was a true page-turner for me. If you are looking for an adventurous YA psychological thriller, I think this book is for you.
The Heart A Rose
Book
The Heart A Rose: A Masterfully Crafted Poetic Journey Through Lifelong Love Are you a hopeless...
poetry
Awix (3310 KP) rated Spartacus (1960) in Movies
May 19, 2019 (Updated May 19, 2019)
Kubrick famously disowned the historical epic he took on as work-for-hire, but almost any other director would and should have been proud of the result. Based on a true story (albeit very loosely), Spartacus the slave (Douglas) is sold to a gladiator trainer, leads his fellow inmates in a revolt, and resolves to free every slave in Italy; ruthless autocrat Crassus (Olivier) scents the chance to exploit the crisis for his own political ends.
Slightly disjointed in its structure: the opening act in the gladiator school barely puts a foot wrong (the fight between Douglas and Woody Strode is exceptional), but then the story splits between the story of the growing slave army, which is hokey and sentimental, and that of the political games in Rome, which features a bunch of great actors giving terrific performances. Usual epic spectacle, but a very atypical downbeat ending: the film works very hard to give Spartacus a moral victory, but it's hard not to see this as a conclusion as bleak as that of any of the films that Kubrick actually admitted to. Stirring entertainment anyway; they don't make 'em like this any more.
Slightly disjointed in its structure: the opening act in the gladiator school barely puts a foot wrong (the fight between Douglas and Woody Strode is exceptional), but then the story splits between the story of the growing slave army, which is hokey and sentimental, and that of the political games in Rome, which features a bunch of great actors giving terrific performances. Usual epic spectacle, but a very atypical downbeat ending: the film works very hard to give Spartacus a moral victory, but it's hard not to see this as a conclusion as bleak as that of any of the films that Kubrick actually admitted to. Stirring entertainment anyway; they don't make 'em like this any more.
ClareR (5991 KP) rated Killing Beauties in Books
Feb 5, 2020
Killing Beauties is about the female spies (She-Intelligencers - isn’t it funny how they could make even that sound like an insult 🤔) who worked for the exiled Charles Stuart during Cromwells reign. Charles Stuart himself sends two female spies back to England to turn Cromwell’s Secretary of State, John Thurloe, into their accomplice using their feminine wiles and training. This is actually based on the true story of two female spies - not something that any of us are usually taught in history lessons at school (perhaps due to their methods!). This is a story with heaps of subterfuge and betrayal, and women who are determined to do the best job they can for their King and their secret society. It was quite amusing in places, which was a little light relief in an otherwise tense story. There’s loads of great historical detail too - think sights, smells and sounds.
It’s a really fun book - fast-paced and with a feeling of danger. I loved it!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising the book, and for Pete Langdon for commenting along with us readers!
It’s a really fun book - fast-paced and with a feeling of danger. I loved it!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising the book, and for Pete Langdon for commenting along with us readers!
Undercover: My Life as an Undercover Cop
Book
Twenty years undercover - one man's true story of life as an undercover cop. A must-read for fans of...
Remembering Whitney: A Mother's Story of Life, Loss and the Night the Music Stopped
Book
The definitive account of Whitney Houston's astonishing life, ground-breaking career and tragic...
CB
Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia
Book
Master baker and star of the #1 hit TLC show, Buddy Valastro tells his inspiring story and recounts...
The Children History Forgot
Book
Once upon a time, Britain forged a mighty industrial empire - built with the blood, sweat and tears...