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Showing posts with label novella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label novella. Show all posts
2 September 2014
Title
| Cats, Scarves and Liars |
Author
| Kathryn White |
Publisher
| CreateSpace |
Publication Date
|
April 2014
|
Pages
| 188 |
Genre
| Novella, Paranormal |
Blurb:
Meet Peppa Grove. Peppa is just your average Australian young woman, really. 23 years old, widowed and owner of a cat who can speak perfect English. (But no one will believe her about the cat.) Why is she being stalked by one of the customers from her job at the City South Post Office? What secrets does the mysterious Ivory Black know about Peppa and her past? What does he know about the strange murders that are happening all over Adelaide? And was it really necessary of him to steal her boyfriend's scarf?
Cats, Scarves and Liars is a quirky, unlikely tale from a unique Australian writer. You'll laugh, you'll cry you'll discover the meaning of life. (Actually, we lied about that last part.)
Cats, Scarves and Liars is a quirky, unlikely tale from a unique Australian writer. You'll laugh, you'll cry you'll discover the meaning of life. (Actually, we lied about that last part.)
My review:
After the first paragraph, I knew I would love Peppa Grove, and had to read on. A bargain kettle from a market stall. Yep, that would be me, and who doesn't love a bargain. Peppa felt like a friend to me straight away. She chats to us in the first chapters, telling us about her young husband who died in a car accident, her job at the local post office (I loved that section and anyone who ever worked in customer service will have a good giggle), her best friend Julian. And she chats to her cat.
But do not let the cat in the title fool you - this is no cosy cat and her owner story, this has a lot more bite to it. Her cat is clearly talking to her. And, of course, whenever others are around he doesn't say a word. And things go missing. And she also finds other things in her house which she definitely didn't purchase. Good that she has her best friend Julian who helps her after the sudden death of her young husband. Than there is the mysterious Ivory Black who somehow always seems to happen to turn up wherever Peppa is and treats her rather strangely and is quite mean to her without any reason.
There is a paranormal element to this story which for me came quite unexpectedly here. But it's not one of those completely unbelievable plots and I think it fitted the story rather nicely.
I do have a bit of problems with the character of Ivory Black. Without giving too much away... as often with characters who are not very pleasant, he is presented in way he sees himself. This did made a me a bit uncomfortable at times.
This book is not very long, only 188 pages, a quick read which will keep you interested.
There is a paranormal element to this story which for me came quite unexpectedly here. But it's not one of those completely unbelievable plots and I think it fitted the story rather nicely.
I do have a bit of problems with the character of Ivory Black. Without giving too much away... as often with characters who are not very pleasant, he is presented in way he sees himself. This did made a me a bit uncomfortable at times.
This book is not very long, only 188 pages, a quick read which will keep you interested.
4 June 2014
itle
| The Body |
Author
| Stephen King |
Publisher
| Viking |
Publication Date
|
1982
|
Pages
| |
Genre
| Novella |
Blurb:
Gordie Lanchance and his three friends are always ready for adventure. So when a boy dies out in the forest, it's a chance to see something they have never seen in their lives: a dead body. But for the four boys, their journey will teach them as much about life as about death. As they face the dangers on their way, they begin to learn what it is to grow up - and nothing will ever be the same for them again.
This is one of four novellas published in King's book Different Seasons. The book is also available (see below) as Penguin Readers - simplified texts designed in association with Longman (educational publisher) to provide a step-by-step approach to the joys of reading for pleasure, also given an introduction and activity material. (above info taken from the book)
My review
Gordie Lanchanche is the narrator of this story, and he tells us about what's happened when he was 12, nearly thirteen years, in 1960, growing up in (the fictional) Maine town of Castle Rock.
Four boys go to look for a supposed dead body by the railway tracks. Gordie, Teddy, Vern and Chris hang out together, and each have their own problems. This will be an adventure they won't forget. Even though they go and will eventually find the dead body, it is not a horror story but about 'growing up'.
It is one of the books which I truly struggle to review. At a basic level, it's a story about four boys going on an adventure, but that doesn't even start to describe the depth of this story. Friendship, bereavement, bullying, mental health, feeling lost in the world, finding oneself, being born in the family of 'no gooders' and trying to better yourself. Beautifully written, it stayed with me for a long time. The ending is very poignant, and for me, has one of the best lines every written in book history:
“ I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anybody?”
(this quote is from the movie and slightly paraphrased from the book)
Many will be more familiar with the movie adaptation 'Stand by Me' - see above picture - and for me, this is the only movie adaption where I can say that the adaptation is almost better than the actual book. Sorry Mr King.
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