saarahnina's reviews
539 reviews

I can't recommend this, enough!

This book has managed to make it to my favourites collection. When I first started this book, I thought I would want to read this to my future children (someday). Then when I got through a bit more, I thought perhaps I'll read it to them when they are older. I do still plan on it, God willing I'll have the opportunity.

This book has such simplistic yet beautiful messages, they were also unpredictable: especially those which came from the child: Thank you. I adored her perspective. As well as, of course,the solemn perspective of Josephine.

Despite the unpredictability, the different elements of the novel interlinked stunningly- at times, hand on heart I called it- I kept having these thoughts that "perhaps they were....yes, definitely...it's likely"
Only those who have read this, will actually understand what I mean.

I want to write far more, but this is one of the books I just don't want to ruin. I'll, however, provide some advice: keep your mind open.

I received this novel through NetGalley.

I'm sure this would have made for a great novel, it was just the sheer intensity which stopped me from reading it and fully enjoying it. I suppose I am one of those individuals who read a book to escape from the worries of this world and to venture far into another realm, I may not appreciate the ideals fairy tales represent but indeed. I appreciate a good lesson taught. I felt this novel offered me little of that. I am hesitant to quit with this book so if time allows, I'd be willing to give it another chance and I'll happily edit this review when the time comes.

The three stars I awarded this were because of Brandon's attempt to keep the tale light hearted and almost sympathetic, through the.characters of Jed and Donnie. I understand that the issues regarding Brooke's life were hardly fun nor are the events of my own life nearly as painful: indeed it featured a deeply sensitive theme. Perhaps I have no such innate intellect or intuition to be able to deal with that.

Typically I'd never rate a book I've not completed, it was just that I thought it should be known that this is not for someone faint of heart Not that I consider myself so, just that I found myself ill fit for such a theme.

Beautiful

I appreciated the illustrations more than the reading. The book wasn't bad, it's just something you'd wish to read to children to inspire thoughts like 'beauty is not in appearance but in good actions'

I received this through NetGalley.

I'd like to start by commenting on the title, it couldn't have been more suitable - I especially enjoyed the parts regarding the birds, and the freedom which was metaphoric of Dillon's freedom to explore his sexuality. At the beginning the hawk was injured, wounded and broken representing Dillon's poor self esteem, confusion and vulnerability. Indeed, this was cleverly implemented.

I first requested this book because I don't usually lean towards books in which the main characters are homosexuals, I'm not homophobic - believe me, I'm tolerant and accepting of them. I wouldn't say this book made me more so, or less so for that matter.

But I did learn about the development of human relationships. I have little else to say in regard to this. Just that a month back I read a book with homosexual characters, I didn't complete it. At first I thought that it was because of the homosexuality element to it, but I wasn't sure. I'm pleased to find that I can read books with characters with different sexualities or gender orientations.

The novel itself was fairly good, it was about a young boy who comes of an age where he quickly becomes confused with his sexuality. His uncle and a guy he meets help him come to terms with it.

Whilst I did follow through with reading it, the novel provided no sort of compelling ideas, nor did it create a sense of urgency for me to find out how it ends. As a result I couldn't give it five stars. I know that a certain allure was there, since I did enjoy it for the most part.

Also the novel had a sort of hidden story to it regarding Dillon's father and his history with gangs and Molly's attempt to keep it from Dillon. This was almost scandalous, it was disappointing that it was not explored instead both Dillon's parents die. Because Milly is described as homophobic, as told by her gay brother Bryan, it'd definitely have been interesting to see her confront her own son's homosexuality. Instead we are deprived of this and we can't witness Dillon's relationship with Molly once this comes out. I'm sure you can agree that there were so many other ways this story could have been told, but at the end of the day we just have to accept it as it is, it's the same as all tales. I suppose the author didn't want to detract from the key ideas: that we can build a family from anywhere; that we'd always be surrounded by those we love; that sometimes we just need a helping hand to pick us up and keep us going- as signified by the injured hawk.

Too predictable

The story was nothing new, a couple of chapters long, and the ending was expected. All these words I've said before with other novels of this kind. I just thought this would be better since it was longer. But the actual length was because the novel had been translated into several other languages.

Now for the characters: Warren was just your average pious man, in my eyes he was far too good to be true.
T. W was the loving brother of Josephine.
Hugh A.D was someone who encountered a small incident with Josephine, she failed to fulfil a promise she had made to him and so he came after her.
Finally, Josephine: the woman with a troubled past but a loving heart.

I also wish to say that parts of this book were simply stupid:
Josephine is running from a man who has told her he plans to kill her, in the simplest of ways possible. But when he claims he has broken his leg, she goes off to help him. In spite of the fact that it could just have been a farce. Even if it was real, any sane person would use it to their advantage and out run the feeble man. I suppose this was done deliberately to present the Christian way of thinking, so I will not go into it.

Another stupid instance was when Warren gave all the possessions in his safe- it contained thousands as well as a bunch of valuable items- to the man who had plans to kill his wife, a woman he had known for a good couple of months. A woman who had failed to trust him enough to share with him, the details of her troubled past. This effectively displays Christian love, unconditional love and sacrifice and how you should not allow yourself to become materialistic. But also promotes an ideal which is rare and perfect- something we, as humans, strive to achieve. In other words, his action was irrational and unnecessary. The latter, because there was no indication that Hugh had a gun or any weapon, therefore there was no real threat. If the author planned to paint love as irrational, I partially understand.

I just wish, we as readers, were able to gain an insight into the true nature of the characters, and I wished there were more characters. I'd also have liked to know how their relation developed, I feel this was overlooked.

I feel I have written enough.

A good story of an old memory...

I loved the illustrations and after reading it too my little brother, I'm sure he did too. It makes a better "When I was your age we'd..." story. As short as it was, it was good. My brother described it as amazing...

A historical classic

I liked this, it's rare that I will ever read a play or even a classic: I lack the much-needed patience. In spite of this, I did enjoy it: I loved how Shakespeare presented Richard in a more intriguing way, albeit historically inaccurate since there is no evidence that it was Richard who murdered the princes, nor was it he, who murdered Henry VI.

The assumptions this play is founded upon significantly reflect Thomas More's accounts and chronicles. His accounts held my attention in the same way. Perhaps I found this a compelling read because I was already knowledgeable of the context (England in the 15th century in its relativity to the Wars Of The Roses.) Therefore I will only recommend this to someone who wishes to explore an alternative view (to what we have gathered from historical records) as that will ensure you can progress through it with ease. Of course though, the language proves to be quite a barrier in and of itself. Consulting the kindle dictionary helped, which I definitely appreciated.

I plan to consult this during my studies to consolidate my understanding of Richard's short reign, indeed it was helpful, comedic and insightful.

Unique and Imaginative

Ward successfully portrays a future, where everything is to be manufactured, and I mean everything: glaciers, the air...it all. A future so bleak and artificial, where the bigger problems have still not been resolved: global warming, cancer, the end of the world. A world which is nothing short of an illusion.

It's almost as if everyone is concerned with making life the way it used to be- as real as possible- but not necessarily better.

The two characters: Karen and Louis have come to realise this and Karen, a cancer sufferer, cannot accept it. Whilst, Louis, a man unwilling to move on, has come to terms with the fact that he will soon fade from this life. Their relationship is heart breaking, and moving in that it

The writing was devastatingly descriptive and emotive, and presented the concept of a future, brilliantly. I appreciated that this novel was different, a world I have thought about often, but could never have explored in such a way. The question of a future is something that hits all of at various points in our lives and for me, when you have such big choices to make, it becomes something which you obsess over. No one wishes to waste time, yet we d so anyway. We can't always utilise time efficiently. But that is a subject best left for another time.

What I mean to say is that when someone is asked such a poignant question of their future, they tend to think short term and in regard to their position in a chosen career. We tend to think it in terms of what we mean to achieve, gain or become, frequently we overlook the wider picture. No one would ever delve into the subject with such intensity and reflection as Ward. This novel served me as a slap in the face. A wake up call. A much needed reminder. We should solve our issues today, rather than pass them off for another day. That other day may not come and if it does, it may prove too late.

Please note that this is my own interpretation of the novel, I have in no way been influenced by other reviews.

"Simple, fictional novel"
Overall 4/5
Performance 3/5
Story 4/5
Would you listen to Mail Order Brides: Jessie's Bride again? Why?
Not really, since it's a novel which you only really need to hear once and because it's rare for me to listen to the same thing again, read a certain book twice, watch a film for the second time... That's just me, and doesn't reflect the nature of this audio book.

Who was your favorite character and why?
This is a tough question, with the novel being so short I don't think I know any of the characters that well. But when it comes right down to it, I'll say Marshall because of the way he looks after his younger brother.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?
The female voice. But I'll give him credit since Sarah cried an awful lot, so it must have been difficult.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I suppose so, since I completed it relatively quickly. I thank the author for a short, simple story.

Any additional comments?
This is my review for the audio book format of this novel. The audiobook was provided by the author, in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.

Please note that I am rating the audio book format of this novel.
Narrated by Kye Grayson

"Sentimental but not too sentimental" Is how I would describe this book.

If you could sum up Counting Losses in three words, what would they be?
Brutally honest [piece of] wisdom.

I don't believe I can say that I liked this book since it is about the anguish a young man encounters in his life in the form of betrayal, heartbreak and depression. So while I can't say I 'liked' it, indeed I can say, with the utmost sincerity, that I found it meaningful.Counting Losses hauntingly encapsulates human emotions, realistically too. What I mean by this is that I felt I could relate to Reese, I , like him, feel only too often that the world is out to get me. Of course though, unlike him, I laugh about this ludicrous notion soon after. I also live by the same sort of philosophies, such as the idea that everything happens for a reason.But since the question uses this word, I will too:I liked that there was substance to the characters, no one was under developed, they all had an integral part in the progression of the novel.In the same way, I liked how Reese developed, as did Tony, he became more mature, more understanding of the ways of the world: though it can be claimed that from his first heartbreak he learned little, since he didn't deal well with his second.

What other book might you compare Counting Losses to, and why?
Unsure.

Has this increased your interest in a particular area?
Yes, depression and the tendency of humans to accept their circumstances (however, awful they may be) as fate, or something they deserve or have no right to change, is certainly something that has fascinated me. Almost as much as human memory, and that's saying something. This novel has raised my interest, now I have another thing to think about at night (to add to my never-ending train of thought): why after experiencing betrayal and heartbreak, are we so willing to accept it and move on? Is it a survival instinct, something innate within us, that we see the good in anyone? Why do some of us find it easier (for lack of a better word)to succumb to defeat and turn to suicide?I know that it took Reese around six months to move on, my question is not regarding the speed if acceptance, just the reason it happens at all. I do, of course, acknowledge that this is a work of fiction.

I definitely have to say that the content comes across as such profound, enlightening wisdom. Perhaps I'm exaggerating, but I definitely felt compelled to complete all of this audio book, there must have been a reason. Indeed, I have always believed everything happens for a reason. So the novel fit into some of the very core philosophies I live by.

Have you listened to any of Kye Grayson’s other performances? How does this one compare?
No, afraid not. So I will answer based on this one performance:
I felt at the start he seemed overly expressive, almost superficial. At other times I felt that the narration was fitting, I'd like to think this was a deliberate technique, that the hopeful tone at the start to the almost dejected voice at the end signified the wearing away of Reese's optimism.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Pretty much.

Any additional comments?
This was a novel I'd usually not follow through with reading or listening to, since it's not something I'm used to, perhaps it was this uniqueness which drew me closer. I'm glad that I didn't stop listening at the first mention of sex, porn, adultery, drug abuse. depression, loneliness, suicide... I appreciated how the author wrote of these things without the socially expected reservations: it allowed for a more genuine feel for the story. This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.