imogen289's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
whatsclairereading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
emmajh91's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
kins's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
rojaed's review
4.0
A short read about a boy damaged by his father's abuse. The boy is tall and strong and unwittingly falls in with a group of gangsters. The humour of the story (told first person by the boy) cannot counter its pathos. Recommended
sharonleavy's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
How the author manages to fit such a rich coming-of-age story into just under 80 pages, I don't know, but I think she did a great job with it.
Six-foot-six Timothy Flowers has never had a job. It's his twenty-first birthday, and he's waiting to spot a new type of bus he has heard about when he meets Charlie, a rough-and-ready builder with a looming deadline. If Timothy helps Charlie out, Charlie will make sure it's worth his while. But when it becomes apparent that the majority of Charlie's problems have nothing to do with building, Timothy wonders if he has made the right decision...
I liked this a lot. I've only read one other book by Kit De Waal ('My Name is Leon'), but it had a similar themes and a similar writing style. This is a tiny little book with a big heart, and I found myself really rooting for both Timothy and Charlie.
There's an arc involving past violence that could have been very distressing, but this author is gifted at weaving the more painful and traumatic elements of someone's history in with the warmth and humour of their present selves.
If you'd like to try something else by this author, there are the fictional 'My Name is Leon' & 'The Trick to Time', the short story collection 'Supporting Cast' and the non fiction memoir 'Without Warning and Only Sometimes'.
Six-foot-six Timothy Flowers has never had a job. It's his twenty-first birthday, and he's waiting to spot a new type of bus he has heard about when he meets Charlie, a rough-and-ready builder with a looming deadline. If Timothy helps Charlie out, Charlie will make sure it's worth his while. But when it becomes apparent that the majority of Charlie's problems have nothing to do with building, Timothy wonders if he has made the right decision...
I liked this a lot. I've only read one other book by Kit De Waal ('My Name is Leon'), but it had a similar themes and a similar writing style. This is a tiny little book with a big heart, and I found myself really rooting for both Timothy and Charlie.
There's an arc involving past violence that could have been very distressing, but this author is gifted at weaving the more painful and traumatic elements of someone's history in with the warmth and humour of their present selves.
If you'd like to try something else by this author, there are the fictional 'My Name is Leon' & 'The Trick to Time', the short story collection 'Supporting Cast' and the non fiction memoir 'Without Warning and Only Sometimes'.
melaniesreads's review against another edition
4.0
A modern day version of the characters from “Of mice and men”. This is all about the wonderful characterisation and telling a story that is both tough and gentle in its scope. Timothy flowers has the size and strength of a giant but the mind of a little boy. It soon becomes clear how he became brain damaged and its heart breaking.
Charlie is in a difficult spot and takes advantage of Timothy using his size for both menial labour and for intimidation. However after spending the day with Timothy a kind of friendship develops and like Charlie you can’t help but fall under the spell of Timothy’s naive but wonderful personality.
A terrific short story that would turn well into a full blown book.
Charlie is in a difficult spot and takes advantage of Timothy using his size for both menial labour and for intimidation. However after spending the day with Timothy a kind of friendship develops and like Charlie you can’t help but fall under the spell of Timothy’s naive but wonderful personality.
A terrific short story that would turn well into a full blown book.
lowie's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse