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vicki_cosy_books's reviews
428 reviews
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
4.0
When I read the synopsis to Amy & Matthew, I had to read the book. Cerebal Palsy is a condition which affects 1 in 400 people born in the UK (Scope) yet as a general population we know very little about it and it's largely misunderstood. I was the same, until I began working with Young Adults with CP.
What I loved about Amy & Matthew is it's ability to shatter preconceptions. Cammie McGovern doesn't shy away from the issues that people may first imagine when they think of CP and gloss over them, but by giving Amy a voice she really allows us to see the person behind the disabilty. I also loved that she didn't make Amy a victim or someone to be pitied. She's bright, strong, ambitious and focused. She's also at times stubborn, selfish and thoughtless and makes some pretty poor choices. In other words, she's a real, multifascted person like anyone else. I LOVED her.
The aspect of the relationship I found most interesting between Amy and Matthew was the unexpected dynamics. Matthew suffers OCD, he struggles with rituals, a dibilitating fear of hurting others and a severe lack of self belief. Matthew offers Amy the oppotunity she most desperatly wants, to have friends. By becoming a 'peer aide', Amy can be herself at school rather than being isolated by being constantly accompanied by an 'Adult' assistant. But this relationship is equal, and Amy's compassion towards Matthew's difficulties is inspiring.
I took a lot away from this book, some of which I'll be more aware of in my work. I'd never considered how it must feel for a teenager to be constantly shadowed by an adult and how that in itself can be isolating from their peer group but once I'd read it, it made perfect sense. The frustration Amy feels when people say 'Hi' but then don't wait for her to reply via her pathway (a computer communication devise) also struck a chord. I see this happening a lot. But it also reminded me that disabilities aren't always visable. Strength and support can be found in unexpected places and inside, people are rarely who we presume them to be from outward appearences. Amy and Matthew celebrates differences and acceptance, and proves love and friendship have no barriers if we only give it a chance. We need more books like this.
What I loved about Amy & Matthew is it's ability to shatter preconceptions. Cammie McGovern doesn't shy away from the issues that people may first imagine when they think of CP and gloss over them, but by giving Amy a voice she really allows us to see the person behind the disabilty. I also loved that she didn't make Amy a victim or someone to be pitied. She's bright, strong, ambitious and focused. She's also at times stubborn, selfish and thoughtless and makes some pretty poor choices. In other words, she's a real, multifascted person like anyone else. I LOVED her.
The aspect of the relationship I found most interesting between Amy and Matthew was the unexpected dynamics. Matthew suffers OCD, he struggles with rituals, a dibilitating fear of hurting others and a severe lack of self belief. Matthew offers Amy the oppotunity she most desperatly wants, to have friends. By becoming a 'peer aide', Amy can be herself at school rather than being isolated by being constantly accompanied by an 'Adult' assistant. But this relationship is equal, and Amy's compassion towards Matthew's difficulties is inspiring.
I took a lot away from this book, some of which I'll be more aware of in my work. I'd never considered how it must feel for a teenager to be constantly shadowed by an adult and how that in itself can be isolating from their peer group but once I'd read it, it made perfect sense. The frustration Amy feels when people say 'Hi' but then don't wait for her to reply via her pathway (a computer communication devise) also struck a chord. I see this happening a lot. But it also reminded me that disabilities aren't always visable. Strength and support can be found in unexpected places and inside, people are rarely who we presume them to be from outward appearences. Amy and Matthew celebrates differences and acceptance, and proves love and friendship have no barriers if we only give it a chance. We need more books like this.
The Avenger by P.C. Cast
4.0
Surprised how much I actually liked this one. Pindered between 3 and 4 and decided to go with 4 as I really did enjoy it.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
If Ever I Fall by S.D. Robertson
If Ever I Fall is boldly recommended for fans of Jojo Moyes -an author I really enjoy. And it was that claim which first drew me to the book. Well ok, the cover too, because yeah. I'm a sucker for a pretty cover. Anyway, after investigating further I was convinced, this did indeed sound like a book that would be right up my street.
I picked it up to read last Saturday morning. Typically, I had woken up early on my day off (why does that always happen?) and even though I had a list as long as my arm of things to do, it was early enough to have a relaxing morning and squeeze in a bit of reading first. BIG mistake. I ended up glued and pretty much lost my entire morning, and some of the afternoon. But it was worth it.
If Ever I Fall is a story told from three perspectives. Dan is struggling with the break up of his family, living alone in a flat he hates and missing his wife and daughter. Maria, Dan's wife, writes letters to someone who she know's will never answer, in an attempt to make sense of events which have devastated her family's life. Then there's Jack. He doesn't know who he is....he's suffering from amnesia. One thing's for sure though...something is certainly not right about his surroundings. How can he find out the truth when he can't even remember who he is?
Wow! When I thought this was a book that would be right up my street I was right. I quickly became engrossed in all three character's lives and felt I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster alongside them. I loved the way that Dan and Maria's story unfolded throughout the book, so that as a reader, when realisation about their situation slowly dawned and pieces of the jigsaw were put together in my mind, I could really understand and empathise with them. I especially loved the addition of Jack....I had absolutely no idea how he related to the story at first and was intrigued by his situation. When I did realise, I was blown away. It's not something I've come across in this way before and gives the whole book an interesting and unique twist.
If Ever I Fall is an emotional read which had me wiping away tears and holding my breath. It's a tale of grief, loss and despair-but there's also hope and the underlying sense that strength comes from those we love, if only we can realise this and reach out. I finished this book feeling that I'd been on a real journey with the characters and thought about it for hours after. It is a beautifully written, engrossing and unique story, and I loved it.
5.0
If Ever I Fall is boldly recommended for fans of Jojo Moyes -an author I really enjoy. And it was that claim which first drew me to the book. Well ok, the cover too, because yeah. I'm a sucker for a pretty cover. Anyway, after investigating further I was convinced, this did indeed sound like a book that would be right up my street.
I picked it up to read last Saturday morning. Typically, I had woken up early on my day off (why does that always happen?) and even though I had a list as long as my arm of things to do, it was early enough to have a relaxing morning and squeeze in a bit of reading first. BIG mistake. I ended up glued and pretty much lost my entire morning, and some of the afternoon. But it was worth it.
If Ever I Fall is a story told from three perspectives. Dan is struggling with the break up of his family, living alone in a flat he hates and missing his wife and daughter. Maria, Dan's wife, writes letters to someone who she know's will never answer, in an attempt to make sense of events which have devastated her family's life. Then there's Jack. He doesn't know who he is....he's suffering from amnesia. One thing's for sure though...something is certainly not right about his surroundings. How can he find out the truth when he can't even remember who he is?
Wow! When I thought this was a book that would be right up my street I was right. I quickly became engrossed in all three character's lives and felt I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster alongside them. I loved the way that Dan and Maria's story unfolded throughout the book, so that as a reader, when realisation about their situation slowly dawned and pieces of the jigsaw were put together in my mind, I could really understand and empathise with them. I especially loved the addition of Jack....I had absolutely no idea how he related to the story at first and was intrigued by his situation. When I did realise, I was blown away. It's not something I've come across in this way before and gives the whole book an interesting and unique twist.
If Ever I Fall is an emotional read which had me wiping away tears and holding my breath. It's a tale of grief, loss and despair-but there's also hope and the underlying sense that strength comes from those we love, if only we can realise this and reach out. I finished this book feeling that I'd been on a real journey with the characters and thought about it for hours after. It is a beautifully written, engrossing and unique story, and I loved it.
The Choir on Hope Street by Annie Lyons
4.0
Oh my! This is just a lovely, lovely book! It made me laugh, smile, yearn to be part of a choir and yet at times it also made me struggle to swallow the lump forming in my throat and blink through blurring tears.
The Choir On Hope Street tells the story of two women, Nat and Caroline, in alternating chapters. Both women are going through a time of uncertainty and change, with their family dynamics shifting and the lives they'd grown comfortable with reshaping. Nat's husband has just dropped a bombshell - he doesn't love her anymore and is moving out. In emotional turmoil, she finds herself bumping, quite literally, into Caroline, and before she knows it she's agreed to join a choir in the hope of saving the community hall on the street. But despite her perfect image, Caroline's family is also under great strain, exasperated when her elderly mother's care home states they can no longer meet her needs due to her increasingly challenging behavior. Never a strong relationship, things are even more fraught. But her mum has a secret locked in her diminishing memory that will change everything, if only Caroline can find a way to unlock it.
These two women endeared themselves to me thoroughly, so that I became fully immersed in their stories, feeling as if I knew them myself. I loved Nat - she reminded me of myself in some ways. Chaotic, emotional and a little bit sarcastic. But there's something really likeable about her too, and when she's at her lowest I felt like I just wanted to give her a hug. At other times, I wanted to sit down to a bottle of wine with her, her quick wittedness and outlook making me smile.
Yet it was Caroline's story which I felt most connected to. Caroline is the opposite of Nat - she's the PTA mum, the perfect wife and host, aiming for the higher social circles and everything done in capable and organised precision. At first, I didn't particularly like her but as her story unfolded, it brought tears of understanding to my eyes. Like Caroline's mother, my grandmother had dementia and Annie Lyons perfectly captured this terrible and heartbreaking disease. I saw my own Grandmother when I read her descriptions of the small, unrecognisable lady Caroline saw and recalled the feelings of frustration and grief, at having lost someone who is still there. There's a particularly touching scene that made me choke up completely, and I think Annie Lyons tackled a difficult and emotional subject with true tenderness, understanding and care.
The Choir On Hope Street surprised me by being not as light as I first imagined it would be. Yes there are funny, laugh out loud moments but there's also depth to this story - one of facing change, the real ups and downs of family life and how when what you know and think you want shifts and life takes you in a different direction, it can turn out for the best. I really loved the importance the community held for these two women, and it made me both smile and a little sad and wistful to be part of such a wonderful community myself. But the overall feeling of this book is hope...and that's how I finished it. Smiling, comforted and hopeful, and like I'd just spent a few hours with old friends. An absolute gem of a book.
The Choir On Hope Street tells the story of two women, Nat and Caroline, in alternating chapters. Both women are going through a time of uncertainty and change, with their family dynamics shifting and the lives they'd grown comfortable with reshaping. Nat's husband has just dropped a bombshell - he doesn't love her anymore and is moving out. In emotional turmoil, she finds herself bumping, quite literally, into Caroline, and before she knows it she's agreed to join a choir in the hope of saving the community hall on the street. But despite her perfect image, Caroline's family is also under great strain, exasperated when her elderly mother's care home states they can no longer meet her needs due to her increasingly challenging behavior. Never a strong relationship, things are even more fraught. But her mum has a secret locked in her diminishing memory that will change everything, if only Caroline can find a way to unlock it.
These two women endeared themselves to me thoroughly, so that I became fully immersed in their stories, feeling as if I knew them myself. I loved Nat - she reminded me of myself in some ways. Chaotic, emotional and a little bit sarcastic. But there's something really likeable about her too, and when she's at her lowest I felt like I just wanted to give her a hug. At other times, I wanted to sit down to a bottle of wine with her, her quick wittedness and outlook making me smile.
Yet it was Caroline's story which I felt most connected to. Caroline is the opposite of Nat - she's the PTA mum, the perfect wife and host, aiming for the higher social circles and everything done in capable and organised precision. At first, I didn't particularly like her but as her story unfolded, it brought tears of understanding to my eyes. Like Caroline's mother, my grandmother had dementia and Annie Lyons perfectly captured this terrible and heartbreaking disease. I saw my own Grandmother when I read her descriptions of the small, unrecognisable lady Caroline saw and recalled the feelings of frustration and grief, at having lost someone who is still there. There's a particularly touching scene that made me choke up completely, and I think Annie Lyons tackled a difficult and emotional subject with true tenderness, understanding and care.
The Choir On Hope Street surprised me by being not as light as I first imagined it would be. Yes there are funny, laugh out loud moments but there's also depth to this story - one of facing change, the real ups and downs of family life and how when what you know and think you want shifts and life takes you in a different direction, it can turn out for the best. I really loved the importance the community held for these two women, and it made me both smile and a little sad and wistful to be part of such a wonderful community myself. But the overall feeling of this book is hope...and that's how I finished it. Smiling, comforted and hopeful, and like I'd just spent a few hours with old friends. An absolute gem of a book.