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A Moment Like This
Be careful what you wish for...
Antonia has always put everyone else before herself. Shy and quiet, her life in a small village in Wicklow has been devoted to her invalid mother and singing in the local church choir. Somehow, it's easier that way.
But when she is left alone her friends encourage her to audition for a television talent show. Blessed with a glorious singing voice, she is suddenly thrust into the limelight and enters the world of celebrity and glamour. She's the Girl from Nowhere, but can she cope with this startling new life? Antonia discovers that this business is tougher than she ever thought possible, but also that she's stronger than she thought she was. And she finds that help can come from the most unexpected places...
Antonia has always put everyone else before herself. Shy and quiet, her life in a small village in Wicklow has been devoted to her invalid mother and singing in the local church choir. Somehow, it's easier that way.
But when she is left alone her friends encourage her to audition for a television talent show. Blessed with a glorious singing voice, she is suddenly thrust into the limelight and enters the world of celebrity and glamour. She's the Girl from Nowhere, but can she cope with this startling new life? Antonia discovers that this business is tougher than she ever thought possible, but also that she's stronger than she thought she was. And she finds that help can come from the most unexpected places...
395 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 30, 2019
I would have gave up on this book way before I reached to half of it if not for my curiosity to know what will happen next to Antonio. At 25, Antonio really depends a lot to others. She is really not that independent for a 25 years old girl. However, she proved herself nearly at the end of the story by making wiser decision on her own.
May 28, 2012
-review originally posted at Willing to See Less
This book was not for me. I had an odd feeling about it since the beginning and despite my efforts to find something to love, I'm not sure I succeeded.
To start with, the author does a lot of telling instead of showing, especially in the first half of the book. There are a lot of fillers such as "Dad used to love...", "Mom used to love...". Also, the phrase "I felt like Mom was here with me/looking down on me/ standing next to me..." , though it's more than true in moments after such a loss, occurs too often.
Antonia, the main character, makes sure to fill us in on the unfortunate beginning of her childhood, probably to accentuate the gratitude she feels to her adoptive parents. In fact, as it turns out, they have done her more disservice than good by keeping her sheltered.
I didn't like Antonia, the main character. She felt too picture perfect, two-dimensional. Her extreme shyness was off-putting from the beginning. I don't like girls who are constantly blushing whenever someone speaks to them and waiting for others to tell her what to do. That changes very little in the course of the book. I didn't feel the need to root for her or sympathize with her in any way. Her whole success actually happened to her. I often wondered how'd she survive on her own were it not for her neighbors and the show producers. The one time she tries to show some initiative, she makes a stupid mistake that most 15 year old girls would know to avoid. At moments I couldn't believe how a 25 year old woman could be so naive and daft about how the world works, even when it comes to the most mundane things. Was she over-protected by her parents? By the time I finished the book, that was my main impression of her.
The twists felt forced, and the imperfections that the author inscribes in her otherwise too perfect characters never felt genuine. Like throwing in a speck or two to disperse the angelic glow. I wasn't convinced.
This was a typical Cinderella story that you actually hear on every talent show: some unrecognized small town talent with a sad life story making it big. Admit it, you've seen it so many times. A Moment Like This could have been a moving story if there was more truth to it: more showing what a cruel, cruel word it is, or else it remains on one scene in the course of the entire book, and even that one a cliché.
Obviously, reading it wasn't a complete waste of time, or else I'd just have stopped reading. I was curious about what kind of obstacles wold be put before Antonia, how she'd handle them, heck, I expected a tear-jerker. Instead, I remained unmoved and detached and emotionally completely unaffected by what happens in this book.
This book was not for me. I had an odd feeling about it since the beginning and despite my efforts to find something to love, I'm not sure I succeeded.
To start with, the author does a lot of telling instead of showing, especially in the first half of the book. There are a lot of fillers such as "Dad used to love...", "Mom used to love...". Also, the phrase "I felt like Mom was here with me/looking down on me/ standing next to me..." , though it's more than true in moments after such a loss, occurs too often.
Antonia, the main character, makes sure to fill us in on the unfortunate beginning of her childhood, probably to accentuate the gratitude she feels to her adoptive parents. In fact, as it turns out, they have done her more disservice than good by keeping her sheltered.
I didn't like Antonia, the main character. She felt too picture perfect, two-dimensional. Her extreme shyness was off-putting from the beginning. I don't like girls who are constantly blushing whenever someone speaks to them and waiting for others to tell her what to do. That changes very little in the course of the book. I didn't feel the need to root for her or sympathize with her in any way. Her whole success actually happened to her. I often wondered how'd she survive on her own were it not for her neighbors and the show producers. The one time she tries to show some initiative, she makes a stupid mistake that most 15 year old girls would know to avoid. At moments I couldn't believe how a 25 year old woman could be so naive and daft about how the world works, even when it comes to the most mundane things. Was she over-protected by her parents? By the time I finished the book, that was my main impression of her.
The twists felt forced, and the imperfections that the author inscribes in her otherwise too perfect characters never felt genuine. Like throwing in a speck or two to disperse the angelic glow. I wasn't convinced.
This was a typical Cinderella story that you actually hear on every talent show: some unrecognized small town talent with a sad life story making it big. Admit it, you've seen it so many times. A Moment Like This could have been a moving story if there was more truth to it: more showing what a cruel, cruel word it is, or else it remains on one scene in the course of the entire book, and even that one a cliché.
Obviously, reading it wasn't a complete waste of time, or else I'd just have stopped reading. I was curious about what kind of obstacles wold be put before Antonia, how she'd handle them, heck, I expected a tear-jerker. Instead, I remained unmoved and detached and emotionally completely unaffected by what happens in this book.
October 7, 2015
one of best books this year love this author quite sad was last book she wrote before she died 10/10
April 23, 2022
Loved this book, romance, comedy, love x
July 15, 2015
it was a very easy read to easy in parts but relaxing when life is very stressful Antonia is very gulible up in a tale and yer she had her hard look story to go with being on a talent show which is a must !
i found it a bit concerting this was relatively modern day but she kept talking on orphanages like dickens would
It is a book i would not give who wanted a proper story and to really feel for the characters you need a bit more depth i have not read any of her other books and if i need a relaxing time would pick one of hers up
I liked the bit about moments as we tend to live in hours day weeks never moments it was very touching the piece written by her hubby at the end !!
i found it a bit concerting this was relatively modern day but she kept talking on orphanages like dickens would
It is a book i would not give who wanted a proper story and to really feel for the characters you need a bit more depth i have not read any of her other books and if i need a relaxing time would pick one of hers up
I liked the bit about moments as we tend to live in hours day weeks never moments it was very touching the piece written by her hubby at the end !!
February 8, 2015
A nice easy read that makes you want to keep on reading. I really liked the main character although I did start to question her three quarters of the way through but soon felt for her again. A charming book to get lost in.
August 9, 2012
An enjoyable book, but the most poignant part of it was the acknowledgements written by the author's husband.
February 22, 2015
I loved this book even tho it broke my heart reading it knowing it was Anita's last book. She was one of the nicest ladies I had the pleasure of meeting and an amazing author
April 17, 2014
Gorgeous book. So sad that this is Anita's final book but what a lovely ending to a brilliant career.
June 17, 2015
I absolutely loved this book, the simplicity of the story but yet everything that was told in it is just amazing.
May 14, 2016
Yet another wonderful uplifting read from an author whose work will be sorely missed . This was her last book before she died .
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews