"but the familiarity of it was as soothing as a lullaby."
[image] Emily
As the pages flew by, a familiar feeling of peace and heartfelt cosyness had sett"but the familiarity of it was as soothing as a lullaby."
[image] Emily
As the pages flew by, a familiar feeling of peace and heartfelt cosyness had settled over me. The author always manages to make it sound as if the characters are real people. A couple of the moments just recently flashed in my head that felt like real and I remembered they were from The Street Where You Live and another one from one of Roone books by this author. So real.
It's one of my this year favoutites. It made me smile and, almost in equal measure, it made me sad and angry (more than ones, to be honest). I'm grateful Roisin Meaney could write such believable characters putting one's head from the worries and making one sympathize with those beautiful people, making you feel less selfish and being pouty, when there's really nothing serious going on. Just a sudden feeling of sadness that usually comes when the weather is gloomy and the sun seems like avoiding only just myself. I used to love listening to Pearl Jam as a teen and one particular line had stuck with me: "I cannot smile, when the sun doesn't shine." That's how I remember the emotion I've taken from this band's song Smile. I checked it out and its true verses did surprise me. That's funny how the memory works sometimes. Or was it my mind interpreting that song and adjusting it significantly to make me feel the way I always feel about the sun? Yep, there's no such line. Something opposite, it seems. So, back to A Winter to Remember - it was another read that came along at a right time, bringing the sun back. And oh. Did I mention, this book is a follow up to The Restaurant, one of my this author's favourites I hoped a sequel to which would be written someday. Such a wonderful early Christmas gift! Thanks a lot, Roisin Meaney! I already miss the characters, but I loved how it all was brought to a close and feel warm and contented, in no need for another story, mainly because (view spoiler)[I'm afraid the author kills yet another character I'm fond of in the next book. Please, let them all be safe and happy. (hide spoiler)]
What a lovely summer book! When I took The House Swap from a bookstore shelf I noticed a cover that instantly caught my attention and stopped me in myWhat a lovely summer book! When I took The House Swap from a bookstore shelf I noticed a cover that instantly caught my attention and stopped me in my tracks - a number of images flashed by, reminding me of the sunny days of a particular summer. And the very beginning of the book gives me a feeling that it's going to be a fantastic read. ...more
[image] "If she could bottle a single moment of her life and hold on to it forever, it would be this one."
Like Tracy herself, the author found the magi[image] "If she could bottle a single moment of her life and hold on to it forever, it would be this one."
Like Tracy herself, the author found the magical words for telling the story that makes the reader feel as inspired as the main character of this book was. A beautiful book that leaves an unforgettable impression and would be the first one I'd love to recommend to inspire children with hearing problems to help them to feel their inner selves and show the beauty and uniqueness that lives in any kid's heart, which would otherwise they have not been capable to see. Great lessons of love as it should be the heart of the author leads you to.
I made a poor decision earlier to finish my previous read I actually forgot I was reading (Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry) and got stuck with it again, kept going and got stuck again. I missed the Briggs family, Gabriel and Lucas, and finished the book in a matter of hours. But a little bit of a wait was worth it, because I felt happy to be back and live their life again! So nothing wrong with this book like with the another title I've read a little from and now am moving on to (My Magnolia Summer). That's funny that these two stories have a magnolia connection. I love titles with Magnolia in their names and have noticed I actually enjoy them a lot :)
P.S. There was one particular scene with starting to rain and when a few minutes later I thought: yes, that's what I'd be doing today... then: Oh no, I forgot that it's raining outside... and this thought had occurred to me twice, that shows how vivid this author writing is. Love her imaginary, her way with words: beautiful, eloquent and inspiring. (view spoiler)[Oh, Alice, I honestly didn't expect that heartfelt decision you've made. (hide spoiler)]...more
[image] "The sky spread wide and blue and full of possibility. Laughter and friendship surrounded me."
It's a warm hug of storytelling, rekindling the i[image] "The sky spread wide and blue and full of possibility. Laughter and friendship surrounded me."
It's a warm hug of storytelling, rekindling the inner child wonder and reminding us that a friendship is a unique miracle that was given to us.
Dear princess Sofia, thank you so much for those heartwarming moments I was a part of during your so awesome and life changing on many levels adventure!
[image]
Talvikki: "Have you regretted any of our adventures so far?"
Nope! Talvikki's name sounds so unusual. For some unknown to me reason, the association with the grass dew in the early morning before dawn her name evokes. Love it, a perfect summer name :) And yay! Jasper! It felt really strange that despite there being only the tiny fragments of storytelling on him in the first book, so little focus on his character, I immediately felt a connection with him and was hopeful that we see more of his character in this final (?) installment.
"It had been a just-us kind of summer, our schedule set only by the sun."
[image] "You said you write stories and that you’ve been stuck. The only way f"It had been a just-us kind of summer, our schedule set only by the sun."
[image] "You said you write stories and that you’ve been stuck. The only way forward is to start, even if you don’t know where you’ll end up."
I loved seeing this same illustration below before each chapter. I didn't notice at first there were slight differences in each, changing a bit the perception of time, showing the progression of the plot and those things that change for the characters inside this beautifully crafted story I enjoyed.
[image]
Within moments I was completely absorbed by Bex and Davies' summer adventure, a mystery to be solved. There were many lines about what it feels like to be a writer. I especially loved that those observations were coming from a child's (Bex) perspective. This tale also reminded me of Where the Forest Meets the Star because of a marsh, studying the nature and one of the main characters being a tween. Also the narration felt in the same vein with Summerlost, where the 12-year-old main character Cedar finds herself surrounded by mystery in a town where her family returned to for the summer. Same elusive patterns in both the stories, like in When Sea Becomes Sky, make them special!
[image]
"As far as telling the truth goes, this is a big one: in life, we all need someone to remind us of who we really are. I was lucky enough to have that person as my brother. He always managed to see the best parts of me, even when I couldn’t."
[image] Quotes on writing: (view spoiler)[
"Unlike Davey, words have always been a comfort to me. Even though stories weren’t coming out on paper the way I wanted, I could still make them in my head. If Davey knew, he’d laugh and say I was showing off. But really, I was just trying to make sense of the world around me. Which is maybe what every good writer is trying to do, when it comes down to it."
"Like any good writer, I knew how to keep my eyes on the parts that mattered and leave the other stuff behind."
"Davey was the type of person who gobbled up words. As a writer myself, I considered him the perfect reader. But writers have jealous hearts, and it burned me to see him devouring words written by another."
"Like any good writer, I considered myself a truth-teller. But the fib had slipped out, as if it had a mind of its own."
"I know that a good writer tells the truth. And I’m trying so hard to be good."
"“I used to write stories. I’ve been stuck for a while, though.” Effie shook her head. “A writer—I should have guessed. You look the type. Stubborn and sensitive, am I correct?”"(hide spoiler)]
Images: 1. Art by Elina Ellis 2 & 3. Art by Yaoyao Ma Van As 4. Art by Claudia Tremblay...more
[image] Cat Ginger by Kelli Brinegar "No one else was near the strange book box, other than a large and beautiful orange cat, lying in the [image] Cat Ginger by Kelli Brinegar "No one else was near the strange book box, other than a large and beautiful orange cat, lying in the shade beneath it. “What are you doing out here?” Evan asked. The cat tipped his face up to the sun and blinked sleepily."
After closing the book, I thought that I might write a bit of further adventures that happened with the main characters, because some images were already forming and taking their shapes in my head. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised those were fleeting moments that have never settled into a story of its own. So I'm just leaving some of my thoughts on this quite an interesting book that has a tendency to continue its adventures after the last page was finished and the book found its honorable place on the bookshelves :)
(view spoiler)[I guessed, like everyone who have read this book, that H. G. Higgins was Evan's Dad, but the thought of the mice to be responsible for starting the fire had never crossed my mind. I certainly didn't see that coming.
Mortimer is a great cat with a big heart, loved seeing his library growing. And how big and versatile it has become, eventually.
"Not all Great Readers wish to be in a book club. There are other ways of sharing books, with very little conversation, or none at all." That's certainly an interesting idea about other ways of sharing books.
An expiration date was used in a way I never thought we could use :)
I like to think that at some point Ms. Scoggin and Mr. Brock did visit a theater at a newly buelt Martinville library, appraising and loving it, and feeling proud of Al. :) (hide spoiler)]...more
Cam (Lana Belova)
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Books:
h-mentions-2023
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