peppypenguin's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so utterly charming it took me by surprise. I had initially picked it up after reading the back quickly and finding it intriguing.
I'd never read Harris before, but I'm certainly glad I did. Her ideas are so simple, yet so interesting, and pulled off in such a way that they really make the reader feel something. Her "horror" shorts were so haunting, and I adored her stories of Faith and Hope, the elderly dears living in a home and facing their own challenges.
Her characters are very intriguing, and I just adore her writing style. I had a hard time putting it down. I would read one story and tell myself, "Ah, just one more", until the next thing I knew I reached the end.
I really look forward to reading more from this author!
I'd never read Harris before, but I'm certainly glad I did. Her ideas are so simple, yet so interesting, and pulled off in such a way that they really make the reader feel something. Her "horror" shorts were so haunting, and I adored her stories of Faith and Hope, the elderly dears living in a home and facing their own challenges.
Her characters are very intriguing, and I just adore her writing style. I had a hard time putting it down. I would read one story and tell myself, "Ah, just one more", until the next thing I knew I reached the end.
I really look forward to reading more from this author!
emmererr's review against another edition
Absolutely fantastic. A mix of the comic, the twisted, and the sweet.
wk52bookreviews's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing! Joanne Harris is one of my favorite authors so I knew I would love this book. I wish I was related to Faith & Hope - read the book and you'll understand.
kernowme's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
gillopad's review against another edition
5.0
I loved these short stories. I've been a Joanne Harris fan for such a long time. Some of the first books I read when I started reading for pleasure again were Joanne Harris. These stories are like a comfort blanket. They were so engaging and I felt like I just flowed through them. This was such a calm and soothing read.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
2.0
A mixed bag of stories. Some hits, some misses.
The two stories about the rain god and sun goddess ("Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Wildlife in Manhattan") were charming, despite the cliché. I'm not familiar with her Runemarks series, though, so possibly I didn't appreciate the stories as much as I would've.
"Cookie" was just weird, and the Elvis story was a bit problematic. All the stories inspired by the Internet and social media sprung from the idea of our virtual immortality as opposed to our real, physical lives, which is interesting enough, but wasn't very well executed.
I liked the way characters wandered into each other's stories. It added a layer of complexity and fascination. Even the best stories, though, weren't anything to write home about. Just pleasant.
The two stories about the rain god and sun goddess ("Rainy Days and Mondays" and "Wildlife in Manhattan") were charming, despite the cliché. I'm not familiar with her Runemarks series, though, so possibly I didn't appreciate the stories as much as I would've.
"Cookie" was just weird, and the Elvis story was a bit problematic. All the stories inspired by the Internet and social media sprung from the idea of our virtual immortality as opposed to our real, physical lives, which is interesting enough, but wasn't very well executed.
I liked the way characters wandered into each other's stories. It added a layer of complexity and fascination. Even the best stories, though, weren't anything to write home about. Just pleasant.
misskrislm's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this diverse, quirky, cute and thoughtful collection off short fiction pieces. Each one gave a new trip while continuing with the writer's own theme of exploration and looking at things on a slant. It was also great to have certain characters recurring throughout the collection.
arrr's review against another edition
4.0
Some of the stories were great, and some were less great. Too much Christmas not enough Loki.
doma_22's review against another edition
3.0
Avevo questo libro conservato da tanto...ma la delusione è stata grande! Principalmente perché non mi aspettavo proprio di trovarmi davanti dei racconti ma semplicemente un romanzo, ambientato in qualche piccolo centro...non lo so...la copertina mi ispirava questo....
Non avevo letto la trama...Molto probabilmente non l'avrei nemmeno iniziato; la tentazione di abbandonarlo è stata molto forte sin dalle prime pagine....ma non mollo quasi mai un libro e, diciamo la verità, non ho avuto il tempo di cercare un sostituto per la challenge :)
Che non mi sia piaciuto lo noto anche dalla lentezza con cui leggo, in particolare se lo alterno con altre letture.
Alcuni non mi sono piaciuti per niente, non hanno attirato la mia attenzione e la mia curiosità.
Altri sono stati più interessanti ma mi sono "scivolati" via senza rimanere molto impressi nella mia memoria...solo pochi, infine mi sono piaciuti. Sono quelli ambientati in una casa di riposto forse perché mi ha ricordato le protagoniste di Mistero a Villa del Lieto Tramonto, che ho letto il mese, scorso, molto simili a loro, in tutti i sensi. Sarà che questa somiglianza così tanto "familiare" me lo ha reso più sopportabile.
Carino anche quello fantasy, se così si può definire, cioè quello con il Dio della pioggia che ritroviamo in due racconti; credo che mi sia rimasto in mente perché è particolare e diverso dagli altri.
In effetti, alcuni di questi avevano le "potenzialità" per essere sviluppati maggiormente e divenire dei veri e propri romanzi e non restare dei semplici racconti. Mi sarebbero piaciuti di più e li avrei letti molto volentieri.
VISUAL CHALLENGE UPGRADE: 2_ Valigia
Non avevo letto la trama...Molto probabilmente non l'avrei nemmeno iniziato; la tentazione di abbandonarlo è stata molto forte sin dalle prime pagine....ma non mollo quasi mai un libro e, diciamo la verità, non ho avuto il tempo di cercare un sostituto per la challenge :)
Che non mi sia piaciuto lo noto anche dalla lentezza con cui leggo, in particolare se lo alterno con altre letture.
Alcuni non mi sono piaciuti per niente, non hanno attirato la mia attenzione e la mia curiosità.
Altri sono stati più interessanti ma mi sono "scivolati" via senza rimanere molto impressi nella mia memoria...solo pochi, infine mi sono piaciuti. Sono quelli ambientati in una casa di riposto forse perché mi ha ricordato le protagoniste di Mistero a Villa del Lieto Tramonto, che ho letto il mese, scorso, molto simili a loro, in tutti i sensi. Sarà che questa somiglianza così tanto "familiare" me lo ha reso più sopportabile.
Carino anche quello fantasy, se così si può definire, cioè quello con il Dio della pioggia che ritroviamo in due racconti; credo che mi sia rimasto in mente perché è particolare e diverso dagli altri.
In effetti, alcuni di questi avevano le "potenzialità" per essere sviluppati maggiormente e divenire dei veri e propri romanzi e non restare dei semplici racconti. Mi sarebbero piaciuti di più e li avrei letti molto volentieri.
VISUAL CHALLENGE UPGRADE: 2_ Valigia
daisyq's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't love these: the ghost/god stories are just not my thing.
Highlights were the two stories about Faith and Hope, two ladies resisting assimilation into their nursing home.
Highlights were the two stories about Faith and Hope, two ladies resisting assimilation into their nursing home.