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Малки чудеса
Том Пътнам се е примирил с тихия си, неособено щастлив живот като преподавател по литература в малко университетско градче. Прекарва дните си, заровен в книгите на Шекспир, където намира утеха от непрестанните грижи за красивата си, но силно депресирана съпруга. Състоянието й се е влошило преди десет години, когато научила за единствената афера на Том с гостуваща в колежа поетеса. Изпълнен с вина, той се е отказал от изгледите си за лично щастие, за да се грижи за нея.
Един следобед обаче Том се запознава в книжарницата с новата й очарователна управителка Роуз Калахан, а съпругата му прави нещо съвсем необичайно – кани я на вечеря в дома им. И точно тогава Том осъзнава, че лостовете на съдбата са се задвижили и предстоят промени, независимо дали е готов за тях, или не.
Малки чудеса е оптимистично напомняне, че си струва да поемем „риска да бъдем щастливи“. И че понякога – точно когато животът ни изглежда напълно излязъл от релси – е възможно да сме направили завой към нови места и хора, които не бихме могли да си представим и в най-смелите си мечти. А чудесата се случват, когато най-малко очакваме.
Един следобед обаче Том се запознава в книжарницата с новата й очарователна управителка Роуз Калахан, а съпругата му прави нещо съвсем необичайно – кани я на вечеря в дома им. И точно тогава Том осъзнава, че лостовете на съдбата са се задвижили и предстоят промени, независимо дали е готов за тях, или не.
Малки чудеса е оптимистично напомняне, че си струва да поемем „риска да бъдем щастливи“. И че понякога – точно когато животът ни изглежда напълно излязъл от релси – е възможно да сме направили завой към нови места и хора, които не бихме могли да си представим и в най-смелите си мечти. А чудесата се случват, когато най-малко очакваме.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2014
232 people are currently reading
9320 people want to read
About the author
Martha Woodroof
6 books120 followersAuthor of SMALL BLESSINGS, on sale 8/12/14, MARTHA WOODROOF was born in the South, went to boarding school and college in New England, ran away to Texas for a while, then fetched up in Virginia. She has written for NPR, npr.org, Marketplace and Weekend America, and for the Virginia Foundation for Humanities Radio Feature Bureau. Her print essays have appeared in such newspapers as the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Small Blessings is her debut novel. She lives with her husband in the Shenandoah Valley. Their closest neighbors are cows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 953 reviews
July 1, 2014
After reading the description of this book and when I first started reading it, I thought it was going to be just about bunch of quirky people in this small college town whose lives were going to change because of the little boy who enters their lives. I thought it would be funny and maybe a little sad and that not much more would happen than he would become part of this quirky little world. I was wrong – not about the fact that these people are a bit quirky and not about how Henry changed their lives, but I was wrong in thinking that this was all the book was about.
It was about some sad and lonely people, all of whom were at a crossroads in their life in some way. .Martha Woodroof does a beautiful job of letting you inside these characters. Tom is an unassuming professor and good man who has stayed by his wife for over twenty years in spite of a debilitating mental illness. Agnes is his smart and feisty mother-in-law who lives with them. She too has had her share of sorrow. Rose is the new employee at the campus Book Shop and she seems lost – should she stay or move on as she always does? Then there is sweet, little Henry who has seen more than a lifetime of sadness given his short life. I loved these characters and how they connected. It's evident when Tom meets Henry that this little boy will be more than a "small blessing” to him and Agnes and probably to Rose too.
I was also wrong in thinking that this would be a totally predictable book. I have to admit I was shocked early on in the story and wasn't quite expecting what happened. But the story is full of surprises - Tom certainly wasn't expecting Henry in his life and I didn't expect the really sweet caring relationship between Tom and his mother in law Agnes. But the twists continue with a piece of the story you wouldn't have suspected up until then. So maybe the ending was a little predictable, but this was a heartwarming story that was so well written, I will be looking for the author’s next book.
*****************************************************************
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
It was about some sad and lonely people, all of whom were at a crossroads in their life in some way. .Martha Woodroof does a beautiful job of letting you inside these characters. Tom is an unassuming professor and good man who has stayed by his wife for over twenty years in spite of a debilitating mental illness. Agnes is his smart and feisty mother-in-law who lives with them. She too has had her share of sorrow. Rose is the new employee at the campus Book Shop and she seems lost – should she stay or move on as she always does? Then there is sweet, little Henry who has seen more than a lifetime of sadness given his short life. I loved these characters and how they connected. It's evident when Tom meets Henry that this little boy will be more than a "small blessing” to him and Agnes and probably to Rose too.
I was also wrong in thinking that this would be a totally predictable book. I have to admit I was shocked early on in the story and wasn't quite expecting what happened. But the story is full of surprises - Tom certainly wasn't expecting Henry in his life and I didn't expect the really sweet caring relationship between Tom and his mother in law Agnes. But the twists continue with a piece of the story you wouldn't have suspected up until then. So maybe the ending was a little predictable, but this was a heartwarming story that was so well written, I will be looking for the author’s next book.
*****************************************************************
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 19, 2015
I won a copy of “Small Blessings” by Martha Woodroof, through the Goodreads Giveaway Contest.
This debut novel, will wrap its arms around your heart, with strong characters and surround you in love and peace. This book will stay with you long after you finish the book. I was totally taken with this book.
The writing is crisp and clear, and the prose will make you laugh and cry.
Tom Putnam, forty four years old, is an English College Professor, a lover of Shakespeare, who lived in a small college town, and spent lots of time in the campus bookstore, as well as caring for his neurotic wife, Marjory, after Tom had been found unfaithful years ago.
“One human being, with the best will and intentions in the world, cannot fix what is wrong with someone else.”
Agnes Tattle, seventy years young retired divorce lawyer, was Tom’s mother-in-law who had moved in with them, when Marjory’s chronic mental illness got worse, to help out. Agnes had warned Tom before the wedding, that Marjory was not marriage material. Agnes had been right-the marriage had been a mess from the beginning. But Agnes was a hoot! She loved her coffee, cigarettes and scotch. Agnes was bossy and demanding, but always had a good heart.
Rose Callahan, thirty seven years old, was the new assistant director of the book store. She was a college employee who attended Tom’s classes. Then, one evening at the bookstore, Tom and Marjory meet Rose Callahan, and Marjory invites Rose to their home for dinner. Her first social interaction since her breakdown. A possible positive change?
And then Tom’s life takes a radical change, when he receives a letter from his former paramour, to advise him he is a Father of a little boy named Henry! And his son is heading Tom's way on a train. Change is coming whether Tom's ready or not.
And Rose helps Agnes and Tom –and Henry, the son he never knew he had—realize Life’s “Small Blessings.”
“Small Blessings” is a heartwarming story with a cast of characters that are both imperfect and real. Small Blessings's, based on the wisdom of Solomon, shows us that routine life can always change. Each character in this story brings their own set of baggage…but what they do with it is up to them.
Choosing happiness is taking a risk…and love is the ultimate goal!
Be thankful for small blessings and try and enjoy every day.
A definite 5-Star +++.
This debut novel, will wrap its arms around your heart, with strong characters and surround you in love and peace. This book will stay with you long after you finish the book. I was totally taken with this book.
The writing is crisp and clear, and the prose will make you laugh and cry.
Tom Putnam, forty four years old, is an English College Professor, a lover of Shakespeare, who lived in a small college town, and spent lots of time in the campus bookstore, as well as caring for his neurotic wife, Marjory, after Tom had been found unfaithful years ago.
“One human being, with the best will and intentions in the world, cannot fix what is wrong with someone else.”
Agnes Tattle, seventy years young retired divorce lawyer, was Tom’s mother-in-law who had moved in with them, when Marjory’s chronic mental illness got worse, to help out. Agnes had warned Tom before the wedding, that Marjory was not marriage material. Agnes had been right-the marriage had been a mess from the beginning. But Agnes was a hoot! She loved her coffee, cigarettes and scotch. Agnes was bossy and demanding, but always had a good heart.
Rose Callahan, thirty seven years old, was the new assistant director of the book store. She was a college employee who attended Tom’s classes. Then, one evening at the bookstore, Tom and Marjory meet Rose Callahan, and Marjory invites Rose to their home for dinner. Her first social interaction since her breakdown. A possible positive change?
And then Tom’s life takes a radical change, when he receives a letter from his former paramour, to advise him he is a Father of a little boy named Henry! And his son is heading Tom's way on a train. Change is coming whether Tom's ready or not.
And Rose helps Agnes and Tom –and Henry, the son he never knew he had—realize Life’s “Small Blessings.”
“Small Blessings” is a heartwarming story with a cast of characters that are both imperfect and real. Small Blessings's, based on the wisdom of Solomon, shows us that routine life can always change. Each character in this story brings their own set of baggage…but what they do with it is up to them.
Choosing happiness is taking a risk…and love is the ultimate goal!
Be thankful for small blessings and try and enjoy every day.
A definite 5-Star +++.
August 6, 2014
I gave this book FIVE stars because even though I had critiques, I couldn't help but love it. There's something about how the characters were written that seemed so vibrant and full of life to me, I couldn't help but root for them and I desperately wanted everything to turn out happily for everyone! So, five stars, because even though some stuff was just flat-out CRAZY, somehow it didn't matter to me. :)
This is a story about a college community, the people in it, and basically the trials these characters face. Tom and his mother-in-law Agnes live together, helping one another care for Tom's wife Marjory. Rose is a new lady in town--working at the college bookstore and leaving everyone around her feeling appreciated and valued just for being who they are. Of course, the supporting characters were totally absorbing for me as well, notably two professors (Iris-loud, brash, unliked and Russell-rude, callous, also sort of unliked) who are both hidden alcoholics.
Basically, everyone's lives intertwine and overlap in some crazy ways. These characters support one another and care for each other but sometimes in the most dysfunctional of ways! Because the story has some crazy plot twists, I was never bored, and because the characters were so lovable, I desperately want to see this made into a dramedy! Thanks Net galley!
This is a story about a college community, the people in it, and basically the trials these characters face. Tom and his mother-in-law Agnes live together, helping one another care for Tom's wife Marjory. Rose is a new lady in town--working at the college bookstore and leaving everyone around her feeling appreciated and valued just for being who they are. Of course, the supporting characters were totally absorbing for me as well, notably two professors (Iris-loud, brash, unliked and Russell-rude, callous, also sort of unliked) who are both hidden alcoholics.
Basically, everyone's lives intertwine and overlap in some crazy ways. These characters support one another and care for each other but sometimes in the most dysfunctional of ways! Because the story has some crazy plot twists, I was never bored, and because the characters were so lovable, I desperately want to see this made into a dramedy! Thanks Net galley!
September 23, 2014
3.5 stars: This is an intelligent chick-lit novel. It’s beautifully written, sweet, and a joy to read. The chick-lit themes are there. It melts into being a bit sappy; yet as a reader, you enjoy the melt. Woodroof is talented and writes beautiful prose.
“Small Blessings….taking sustenance from the simple pleasures of everyday things…when you got down to actual survival, that was the big picture.” The novel is full of homespun wisdom such as this. Also, another favorite: Worrying meant you were trying to control something you had no business trying to control. I should have that taped to my fridge, closet doors, and mirrors.
The first sentence of the novel caught me: “There she was, as welcome in this insular community a fresh air in a multiplex, a woman who, rumor had it, risked being happy.” Yes, it’s a wonderful, feel-good chick-lit. If you’re in the mood for a fast read, a wonderfully written book, that leaves you in a great mood, this is a book for you.
“Small Blessings….taking sustenance from the simple pleasures of everyday things…when you got down to actual survival, that was the big picture.” The novel is full of homespun wisdom such as this. Also, another favorite: Worrying meant you were trying to control something you had no business trying to control. I should have that taped to my fridge, closet doors, and mirrors.
The first sentence of the novel caught me: “There she was, as welcome in this insular community a fresh air in a multiplex, a woman who, rumor had it, risked being happy.” Yes, it’s a wonderful, feel-good chick-lit. If you’re in the mood for a fast read, a wonderfully written book, that leaves you in a great mood, this is a book for you.
September 6, 2014
I had a great deal of trouble connecting with this book and I can't put my finger on it. The characters were somewhat interesting and very quirky, and the writing was good but for some reason the book just dragged and dragged. The premise is that a man who is married to a very quirky woman finds out that he may have fathered a child during an affair. That's the extent of the plot. There are a bunch of side characters as well who are pretty well developed. This was certainly not chick lit, but for some reason, it just didn't strike home with me.
August 11, 2014
When Rose first arrives, a thirty-something unmarried woman, at the college bookstore where she has been hired, she manages to charm everyone in her path. I had a few inner doubts, wondering if this book was going to be one of those unrealistic all sweetness and light novels. As I read on though all those doubts disappeared. These are all characters who on the surface seem to be doing quite well, but underneath are dealing with the same hopes and fears many of us have to face.
An unexpected death and the arrival of six year old Henry will change things in a big way for all the characters. These are ordinary people trying to come to terms with the unusual circumstances they now find their selves involved in. I really loved the warmth and caring Woodruff shows in portraying these people, the understanding and doubts that make them fully fleshed people. My favorite character though is Agnes, Tom's mother in law, she has suffered a tragedy in her past, she is wise, caring and funny. How all these characters join together, help each othe3 but grow individually is what made this novel a special one for this reader. Positive novels, although everyone does not get what they want by book's end, are far and few between.
Told with a great deal of humor this was a wonderful novel. The title small blessings reminded me of my grandmother who always told us to be grateful form the small things we are given. Readers who like Anne Tyler, Jeannie Ray and Elizabeth Berg, may find much here to admire.
ARC from NetGalley.
An unexpected death and the arrival of six year old Henry will change things in a big way for all the characters. These are ordinary people trying to come to terms with the unusual circumstances they now find their selves involved in. I really loved the warmth and caring Woodruff shows in portraying these people, the understanding and doubts that make them fully fleshed people. My favorite character though is Agnes, Tom's mother in law, she has suffered a tragedy in her past, she is wise, caring and funny. How all these characters join together, help each othe3 but grow individually is what made this novel a special one for this reader. Positive novels, although everyone does not get what they want by book's end, are far and few between.
Told with a great deal of humor this was a wonderful novel. The title small blessings reminded me of my grandmother who always told us to be grateful form the small things we are given. Readers who like Anne Tyler, Jeannie Ray and Elizabeth Berg, may find much here to admire.
ARC from NetGalley.
July 15, 2014
Small Blessings is entirely predictable in a general sense, but completely unpredictable when it comes to the specifics. Take a gentle, decent Shakespeare professor, the son he never knew he had, and a free-spirited bookseller, a beautiful western Virginia setting, and you've got a heartwarming novel with a clear path to a happy ending, right? But the professor is married, the son isn't quite what he seems, and the bookseller...well, okay, she's pretty much as advertised. The plot makes a number of fascinating twists and turns and the supporting characters almost steal the story. Novels that manage to be charming without being cloying are small blessings in themselves. I look forward to more from this author.
January 3, 2018
One of the best audiobooks of fiction I've chosen. the characterization is also some of the best I've come across recently. the 20-30% of it petered off into something unnatural though, abandoning what made the rest of it so great in favor of some tension and antagonistic challenge, which I didn't think furthered the development of character much besides the insight on loneliness and being unappreciated having sometimes profound and dramatic effects, and its social value as critique. The final part of the book was redeemed with the depth of conversation with her mother concerning relationships and our own complicated rejection of them in favor of our selfish, high-minded visions for our lives in static idealisation. Overall, if one is looking for fantastic characterization and a social critique of our social lives, this is a great contribution and recommended.
May 1, 2022
A sweet story about second chances at life and love. It would have been a better book if it had not been so predictable. The one event that was unexpected seemed unbelievable to me.
Henry, the precocious 6 yr old in this book seemed so much older. We know he was raised mostly by his grandparents, but some of the stuff coming out of his mouth was just too well thought out for a child that age.
The writing was over descriptive at times. This sentence sent me to the moon:
“The strange, fragile, bothersome, intrusive intimacy between them dissipated, vaporized,retreated back into its inaccessible lair.”
Tom Putnam, one of our main protagonist, was too kind,too perfect, too saintly, to use my version of over describing.
Overall, a light, easy read that was what I consider standard fare.
Published: 2014
Henry, the precocious 6 yr old in this book seemed so much older. We know he was raised mostly by his grandparents, but some of the stuff coming out of his mouth was just too well thought out for a child that age.
The writing was over descriptive at times. This sentence sent me to the moon:
“The strange, fragile, bothersome, intrusive intimacy between them dissipated, vaporized,retreated back into its inaccessible lair.”
Tom Putnam, one of our main protagonist, was too kind,too perfect, too saintly, to use my version of over describing.
Overall, a light, easy read that was what I consider standard fare.
Published: 2014
July 12, 2021
A tender, funny, rich book about all the ways we get in our own way--and how to get better. Absolutely adored this book.
January 12, 2015
Small Blessings: A Novel by Martha Woodroof
This is another one of those charming reads, about quirky people and how they cope in dealing with different circumstances and life choices.
The setting is the campus of a large college where many of the teachers and professors reside with their families in the small private community within the college grounds, making them neighbours as well as friends and colleagues.
The one place on these campus grounds where everyone feels united and comfortable that they are not being judged by their peers, is the College Bookshop.
There seems to be a general consensus that Rose, the new woman on campus recently appointed to run the bookshop, is someone much admired by all as a genuinely nice and good person with everyone's best interests at heart.
So the bookshop is a sort of meeting ground or hub for the college population to meet up with friends or groups...or just to browse peacefully.
Some particular alliances are formed between a resident motley group of mismatched and socially inhibited academics, who have been thrown together by a variety of life problems where they find themselves floundering in events that can...more often than not...best be described as a comedy of errors.
The book follows each character as they interact and navigate the ups and downs that life indiscriminately deals them on a day to day basis.
Through trial and error we watch them each find their way, sometimes through sad and sometimes through fortuitous twists of fate.
The book is both humorous and poignant, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it held more surprises for me than I had initially expected of it.
4★s
Another one for the same shelf as:
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Lost and Found by Brooke Davis
The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon
October 5, 2022
Това е книжка за чудесата в живота ни, за случайностите, за промените и за любовта. Трогателно написана, авторката разкрива пред очите ни един свят на безкрайно търпение, доброта и отзивчивост. Увлекателно разказва за жертвите, които правим, за тайните, които крием, за поривите на някои хора да живеят номадски живот без да могат да се установят, колебанията им дали заслужават щастие. Много човешка, оптимистична и ведра книга, макар да имаше 1-2 нагласени моменти. Всички заслужаваме любов, щастие и радост!
March 27, 2018
3+ I was in the mood for a comforting novel and this one, with an academic setting (including a bookstore), was just the ticket. As you would expect from the title Small Blessings, by the end of the novel all the loose ends are nicely tied in a bow. There was more than one surprise along the way though and it was an enjoyable read.
November 13, 2014
*I won this book from goodreads first reads.
When I rate a book it's often based less on a critical analysis and more on how much I could get lost in it while I was reading. For instance, Twilight has a much higher rating than it really deserves because as awful as it is, while I was reading it I got so caught up in what was going on I didn't notice what a horribly abusive relationship it was and how extremely anti-climatic half the books were. Until I finished reading and actually started thinking about it, anyway. Then it all came crashing down.
This, however, was one of those books where my mind wandered while I was reading. I spent the entire time noticing plot holes and wishing I was reading anything else. Most of the book was just dull, trying to be some sort of character driven slice-of-life thing, but the characters aren't interesting enough to hold my attention and there are too many of them, all too unconnected until the very end, so it's hard to keep track of who's who.
And then the last twenty pages devolve from merely boring to just awful. Ignoring the part where one of the guys comes to the conclusion that he owns a woman he's barely exchanged a dozen words with and kidnaps her (because if I don't I'll be ranting about how awful and infuriating it was until the end of time), it's absolutely ridiculous that not a single character in a novel set in 2006 has a cell phone. While it would be equally stupid for anyone to be pulling out their brand new iphone, by 2006 plain old cell phones were pretty ubiquitous and it seems like the complete lack of them is only to complicate the kidnapping sequence.
Long story short, this one just wasn't good. 97% boring, 3% just ugh.
When I rate a book it's often based less on a critical analysis and more on how much I could get lost in it while I was reading. For instance, Twilight has a much higher rating than it really deserves because as awful as it is, while I was reading it I got so caught up in what was going on I didn't notice what a horribly abusive relationship it was and how extremely anti-climatic half the books were. Until I finished reading and actually started thinking about it, anyway. Then it all came crashing down.
This, however, was one of those books where my mind wandered while I was reading. I spent the entire time noticing plot holes and wishing I was reading anything else. Most of the book was just dull, trying to be some sort of character driven slice-of-life thing, but the characters aren't interesting enough to hold my attention and there are too many of them, all too unconnected until the very end, so it's hard to keep track of who's who.
And then the last twenty pages devolve from merely boring to just awful. Ignoring the part where one of the guys comes to the conclusion that he owns a woman he's barely exchanged a dozen words with and kidnaps her (because if I don't I'll be ranting about how awful and infuriating it was until the end of time), it's absolutely ridiculous that not a single character in a novel set in 2006 has a cell phone. While it would be equally stupid for anyone to be pulling out their brand new iphone, by 2006 plain old cell phones were pretty ubiquitous and it seems like the complete lack of them is only to complicate the kidnapping sequence.
Long story short, this one just wasn't good. 97% boring, 3% just ugh.
November 21, 2014
**Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this in exchange for an honest review**
I have a confession to make. I could not read the ARC which St. Martin's was kind enough to provide for me. I tried. I really did. I must have picked it up and put it down no less then 4 times. I just couldn't do it. It bored me to tears. I accepted it was a DNF and moved on. While I was at the library last week, I saw the audio for this on the shelf and figured "what the hell, I'll give it one more shot". I'm glad I did. The narrator (Lorelei King) did a beautiful job bringing these characters to life.
While the story itself is pretty predictable, the characters were all wonderfully unique. They weren't over the top quirky just for the sake of being quirky, which is a nice change. All the characters were well fleshed out and likable. The story was very cute and light hearted. While I don't think I'll read anything by Woodroof again, I'll definitely give audio versions of any future titles she writes a try.
Written version: 1 Star
Audio version: 4 Stars
I have a confession to make. I could not read the ARC which St. Martin's was kind enough to provide for me. I tried. I really did. I must have picked it up and put it down no less then 4 times. I just couldn't do it. It bored me to tears. I accepted it was a DNF and moved on. While I was at the library last week, I saw the audio for this on the shelf and figured "what the hell, I'll give it one more shot". I'm glad I did. The narrator (Lorelei King) did a beautiful job bringing these characters to life.
While the story itself is pretty predictable, the characters were all wonderfully unique. They weren't over the top quirky just for the sake of being quirky, which is a nice change. All the characters were well fleshed out and likable. The story was very cute and light hearted. While I don't think I'll read anything by Woodroof again, I'll definitely give audio versions of any future titles she writes a try.
Written version: 1 Star
Audio version: 4 Stars
October 12, 2022
Да се смееш ли, да плачеш ли? Или да се вгледаш в истината за живота, за отношенията между хората и за непреодолимите реалности около нас? Защото винаги съм знаела, че след сватбените камбани всъщност започва истинското развитие на любовта между двама души. А там - не всичко е цветя, розови листенца и заживели щастливо до края... На какво?
" Малки чудеса" на Марта Удруф е нежна и топла книга, която деликатно признава, че не винаги нещата по пътя ни се подреждат според добрите ни намерения в началото. Колко близки, познати, мили и не чак толкова ми бяха героите! Колко познато ми беше да се случват чакани и неподозирани случки . Но онази мисъл, че всеки човек и всяко нещо се изправят пред нас по някаква причина, тук получи нов прочит. И наистина " удобната фантазия, че две хилави сламки, ако се вържат заедно, могат да направят здрава метла" на мнозина изиграва лоша шега. Защото една връзка е толкова здрава, колкото е силна най - здравата й... сламка. И трябва да сме силни и готови да се борим за щастието си. Ако сме били сигурни, че знаем какво/кой с какво ни прави щастливи по начало.Иначе " нито едно човешко същество, дори и с най - добрата воля и най - благородните намерения на света, не може да реши проблемите на друго човешко същество." А после, където и да отидем, колкото и далеч да избягаме, там отново ще вземем със себе си Нас!!!
" Малки чудеса" на Марта Удруф е нежна и топла книга, която деликатно признава, че не винаги нещата по пътя ни се подреждат според добрите ни намерения в началото. Колко близки, познати, мили и не чак толкова ми бяха героите! Колко познато ми беше да се случват чакани и неподозирани случки . Но онази мисъл, че всеки човек и всяко нещо се изправят пред нас по някаква причина, тук получи нов прочит. И наистина " удобната фантазия, че две хилави сламки, ако се вържат заедно, могат да направят здрава метла" на мнозина изиграва лоша шега. Защото една връзка е толкова здрава, колкото е силна най - здравата й... сламка. И трябва да сме силни и готови да се борим за щастието си. Ако сме били сигурни, че знаем какво/кой с какво ни прави щастливи по начало.Иначе " нито едно човешко същество, дори и с най - добрата воля и най - благородните намерения на света, не може да реши проблемите на друго човешко същество." А после, където и да отидем, колкото и далеч да избягаме, там отново ще вземем със себе си Нас!!!
October 12, 2014
Full disclosure: I went to the college the one in this book is based on and the author worked in the campus bookstore at that time. So having known the author and seeing little glimpses of my college life in the book may have colored my judgement a bit.
That said, I think any lover of serious, non-fluffy chick lit would enjoy this novel. It is beautifully written with rich descriptive language and fully fleshed out, realistic, lovable quirky characters. I truly enjoyed every moment.
That said, I think any lover of serious, non-fluffy chick lit would enjoy this novel. It is beautifully written with rich descriptive language and fully fleshed out, realistic, lovable quirky characters. I truly enjoyed every moment.
June 29, 2014
Feeling BLESSED. Love , Love, LOVE this book!!
Small Blessings summary and message -- Life is messy. People are basically good, smart and doing their best. Trust that everything will work out. Be HAPPY!
Get your hands on a copy or order this for your book club RIGHT AWAY. (You can thank me later.)
Guaranteed to warm your heart and affirm that life really IS good.
Small Blessings summary and message -- Life is messy. People are basically good, smart and doing their best. Trust that everything will work out. Be HAPPY!
Get your hands on a copy or order this for your book club RIGHT AWAY. (You can thank me later.)
Guaranteed to warm your heart and affirm that life really IS good.
August 8, 2014
4-4.5 stars. This book charmed me to no end. First of all, thank you very much to Goodreads, I won this book in the Goodreads First Reads program. This book has been compared to, or could be compared to, based on its description, "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry". Some have loved it, some have hated that one. Small Blessings however seems to hide in Fikry's shadow. It really deserves to be placed ahead of it (do I really know that? I don't, as I haven't read Fikry yet.) Small Blessings is an incredibly charming read filled with fabulously flawed characters. It's set on a college campus, takes shots at its administration and comes complete with quirky faculty and a Book Store to boot. I was immediately sold, but when began reading was completely charmed and delighted.
September 20, 2015
A lot of potential not quite realized. I don't quite remember why I was drawn to 'Small Blessings,' but I got a copy for a bargain price and was excited to start it. A review somewhere compared this to 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry,' which I adored. So I hoped this would be a somewhat similar book yet tried not to get my hopes up too high.
And that was a wise decision to make. We are introduced to Tom, a professor on a small university campus who has a very fragile wife. He lives with her and his mother-in-law when one day he gets a letter informing him he is the father of a ten year boy named Henry who will be coming to live with him. Throw into the mix a sort-of love triangle, the questions of Henry's parentage and some academic shenanigans and you've got this book.
I wanted to like this. I loved the idea of it being a book about a professor who might seem like a total bumbling father but turns out to be the type of dad who reads 'Harry Potter' every night to his child before bed. And yet...it wasn't that great. There was a lot of places to go with this book, but it the pacing was very uneven (very slow in the beginning, picks up after awhile and then has a very weird thriller-like twist at the end). There are some characters who could have been cut or at least had their roles reduced. A lot of the characters don't get a lot of development (for example, Rose seems a bit Mary Sue-ish for me). There are a couple of plot developments that were just too darned convenient.
It reads like a lesser 'Fikry.' While that book too had its cliches and convenient plot twists, the characters were charming enough and the book was more funny/light-hearted and better-written overall. The book flap to this describes this as heartwarming, which isn't quite so. It all ends well, but there are certainly a few places where the book goes in a dark place (the one towards the end was totally unnecessary and seemed to have no consequences either).
Yet it did keep me reading. Once I managed to get through the first 5-6 chapters (I'll admit I seriously considered giving up) the book picks up in terms of action and plot movement. This wasn't a bad read, but if you're looking for a cast of quirky characters (that are bookish/academic) in a small setting where a child entering the picture changes the course of things, pick up 'Fikry' instead. This wasn't a bad read, but I think I would have preferred borrowing it from the library instead. But if you need a bargain read to kill time while flying, this might not be a bad purchase. Just be prepared to slog through it.
And that was a wise decision to make. We are introduced to Tom, a professor on a small university campus who has a very fragile wife. He lives with her and his mother-in-law when one day he gets a letter informing him he is the father of a ten year boy named Henry who will be coming to live with him. Throw into the mix a sort-of love triangle, the questions of Henry's parentage and some academic shenanigans and you've got this book.
I wanted to like this. I loved the idea of it being a book about a professor who might seem like a total bumbling father but turns out to be the type of dad who reads 'Harry Potter' every night to his child before bed. And yet...it wasn't that great. There was a lot of places to go with this book, but it the pacing was very uneven (very slow in the beginning, picks up after awhile and then has a very weird thriller-like twist at the end). There are some characters who could have been cut or at least had their roles reduced. A lot of the characters don't get a lot of development (for example, Rose seems a bit Mary Sue-ish for me). There are a couple of plot developments that were just too darned convenient.
It reads like a lesser 'Fikry.' While that book too had its cliches and convenient plot twists, the characters were charming enough and the book was more funny/light-hearted and better-written overall. The book flap to this describes this as heartwarming, which isn't quite so. It all ends well, but there are certainly a few places where the book goes in a dark place (the one towards the end was totally unnecessary and seemed to have no consequences either).
Yet it did keep me reading. Once I managed to get through the first 5-6 chapters (I'll admit I seriously considered giving up) the book picks up in terms of action and plot movement. This wasn't a bad read, but if you're looking for a cast of quirky characters (that are bookish/academic) in a small setting where a child entering the picture changes the course of things, pick up 'Fikry' instead. This wasn't a bad read, but I think I would have preferred borrowing it from the library instead. But if you need a bargain read to kill time while flying, this might not be a bad purchase. Just be prepared to slog through it.
November 8, 2014
This book was a little different. Tom Putnam is married to Marjorie but she is mentally ill and her inability to deal with any of the simple basics of life. This has curtailed not only her life but Tom’s and her mother’s who also lives with them. Tom has remain devoted to his 20 year marriage except for one affair 10 years ago. They all live rather quiet, staid lives on the college campus where Tom teaches Shakespeare. Then in the course of a couple of days Marjorie goes out to a college party, a new woman comes to work in the college bookstore, Tom learns he has a son and he is on his way by train to come for a visit. Whew!
But through all of this Tom remains calm. Very, very calm. Nothing seems to phase him. I don’t want to spoil too many plot points but let me just write that through death, drunks, small boys and bouts of insanity Tom remains the same. Only once I believe does he show any passionate emotion and I really found this disconcerting considering all that goes on in his life. He just rolls along accepting all that happens no matter what.
Rose, the new woman that comes to the campus is a ray of light. EVERYONE loves her and she is like a fairy distributing sweetness and light. Like Tom she is very much a one note character. In fact most of the characters lack any real development even as some of them. The plot was a bit lacking for the most part and the sub plots did little to help move the story along.
I kept hoping for explanations for various actions but rather like Tom things just ambled along with no fuss and no bother.
2.5
But through all of this Tom remains calm. Very, very calm. Nothing seems to phase him. I don’t want to spoil too many plot points but let me just write that through death, drunks, small boys and bouts of insanity Tom remains the same. Only once I believe does he show any passionate emotion and I really found this disconcerting considering all that goes on in his life. He just rolls along accepting all that happens no matter what.
Rose, the new woman that comes to the campus is a ray of light. EVERYONE loves her and she is like a fairy distributing sweetness and light. Like Tom she is very much a one note character. In fact most of the characters lack any real development even as some of them. The plot was a bit lacking for the most part and the sub plots did little to help move the story along.
I kept hoping for explanations for various actions but rather like Tom things just ambled along with no fuss and no bother.
2.5
July 20, 2014
This novel hooked me from the first chapter and surprised me in so many ways. Right off the bat there's an event I did not see coming, that sends the story in a completely new direction. From that point on, even though the ending was easy to predict, the plot takes many twists and turns which kept me involved and interested. I loved the main characters, Tom, Rose, and Agnes. They were very well drawn and they each went on an important life journey, growing and changing by the end--which to me is the hallmark of a good story. I adored Henry, the little boy who enters all their lives, and acts as the catalyst to promote all this healing and change. I wasn't as fond of some of the supporting characters, but they did add tension to the story. My only gripe is that the college where it's set didn't feel like a real place, and there were a lot of coincidences and events that didn't ring true, especially the dramatic "crisis" tossed in at the end which, (not wanting to give away any spoilers) I think was ridiculous and totally unnecessary-- it didn't belong in this novel at all. Despite this, however, I enjoyed this book a lot and I recommend it!
August 28, 2014
I'm a little conflicted over this book. On the one hand, the description of this perfect little college town, filled with so many kind and lovely people, made me want to live there, work in the bookstore, and soak up the perfection that the author has created. On the other hand, nothing about this book is terribly realistic and I found myself getting annoyed by that. I was also annoyed by a character's sudden and uncharacteristic meltdown in a classroom that was never explained and that was described in far-fetched metaphors. Though there is a lovely little story here (for everyone but Marjory, who dies, conveniently for her husband, just when a new woman moves to town) and though it all ends quite happily, there were too many little things that I couldn't quite accept. If you're looking for light, happy reading with a happy ending that all seems a bit too easy, you'll love this book.
June 8, 2018
This heartwarming story practically oozes charm and hope from each page. Tom Putnam has resigned himself to a life of painstakingly caring for his wife who suffers from a number of neuroses. Happiness is something he doesn’t even consider anymore. He teaches English at a small college, and the faculty and students are all aware of the burden he bears. But then Rose Callahan is hired to manage the college bookstore, and no one’s life is ever the same again. A perplexing complication to Tom’s life begins with a letter first telling him he is the father of a ten-year-old boy, Henry, the result of a brief affair, and that said boy is on a train, coming to stay with Tom. Tom’s predictable days are over in ways he could never imagine. These characters may have flaws that they must overcome, but this novel is pretty nearly perfect. An enchanting story that shows that fairy-tale endings can still be found in everyday lives.
September 15, 2014
I loved this book. I had to stop myself from reading it too fast so I wouldn't finish it too quickly. I wanted to linger over every moment of the characters relationships with each other.
April 17, 2022
This wasn't quite what I expected.
This book is probably the first non-fantasy fiction I have ever read and finished. I never had time for fiction that was not going teach me a lesson with clichés on existentialism, or one that did not spirit me away to a different world with its own laws and power fantasy. It is mindboggling for myself that this Small Blessings is my first adult fiction which reminded me how fun it is to read a story for its own sake, not for its lessons.
This is a very quirky book full of interesting lines and believable, flawed, and charming characters. I was expecting a story on the oddities of academic life and some romance, but it turned to to be much more about broken childhoods, mental health, and alcoholism, and how these conditions impact the people around them. It is full of small twist and turns, which despite the lack of compelling action scenes, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Alright, maybe not quite at the beginning, it has a very slow start and my attention wandered elsewhere from time to time. It also wasn't thrilling or presenting interesting and seemingly-insurmountable obstacles, it was mainly about normal people and their choices between love and fear, and when my attention lingers on that a little longer they become more interesting and deeper than they were initially. It ends up being a relaxing read that was engaging enough to make you want to learn more about 'what's going on'.
Unfortunately this is the first and only novel by Martha Woodroof who passed away last year, which is astounding because this book definitely did not read like a novelist debut but a seasoned bestselling author. There are some loose ends with how Marjory was handled as a character and her development, but I still enjoyed this nonetheless.
This book is probably the first non-fantasy fiction I have ever read and finished. I never had time for fiction that was not going teach me a lesson with clichés on existentialism, or one that did not spirit me away to a different world with its own laws and power fantasy. It is mindboggling for myself that this Small Blessings is my first adult fiction which reminded me how fun it is to read a story for its own sake, not for its lessons.
This is a very quirky book full of interesting lines and believable, flawed, and charming characters. I was expecting a story on the oddities of academic life and some romance, but it turned to to be much more about broken childhoods, mental health, and alcoholism, and how these conditions impact the people around them. It is full of small twist and turns, which despite the lack of compelling action scenes, kept me hooked from beginning to end. Alright, maybe not quite at the beginning, it has a very slow start and my attention wandered elsewhere from time to time. It also wasn't thrilling or presenting interesting and seemingly-insurmountable obstacles, it was mainly about normal people and their choices between love and fear, and when my attention lingers on that a little longer they become more interesting and deeper than they were initially. It ends up being a relaxing read that was engaging enough to make you want to learn more about 'what's going on'.
Unfortunately this is the first and only novel by Martha Woodroof who passed away last year, which is astounding because this book definitely did not read like a novelist debut but a seasoned bestselling author. There are some loose ends with how Marjory was handled as a character and her development, but I still enjoyed this nonetheless.
October 9, 2017
Tom Putnam is a pleasant and quiet English professor in a small college town. Tom’s wife Marjory’s mental illness is a drain on everyone around her and causes a great deal of gossip in the community. Yet, through it all, Tom remains the devoted and (almost) faithful husband. Aside from one brief affair with a colleague several years prior, Tom stands by Marjory despite her trying behavior.
When tragedy strikes, Tom’s life changes almost overnight – particularly when free-spirited Rose Callahan arrives to manage the college bookstore, then even more so when Tom learns he has a six-year-old son, who’s on his way for a sudden visit. Can things get even more complicated for Tom and those around him? Yes, they can…
When I spotted this book on the bargain table at my local bookstore, I was first drawn to the book cover. Then I read the inside cover and was intrigued enough to make the purchase. Yet, as I began to read, I admit that I had some trouble getting into the story. I felt as though the author meandered a bit too much and I began growing bored quickly. In fact, I almost gave up a few times, but I stayed with it. Actually, I’m glad that I did.
There are several very touching moments in Small Blessings. Several subplots are at work here and they do come together in the end. The characters are charmingly flawed and that’s what makes this such a lovely read. On the surface, many of the characters seem to be almost gruff and unfeeling, but the author does a wonderful job of opening them up so readers can see the complex emotions underneath – and after all, isn’t that how people really are? Tom is probably the one constant in the book – good natured, kind and consistent almost to a fault, but not quite. I found his character to be the anchor that holds the story together.
The ending was somewhat predictable, but I didn’t care one bit. It was exactly the way I’d hoped it would work out. Small Blessings is well worth sticking with through to the end. It’s a charming story about life, loss and love!
5 of 5 Stars, Susan Barton, https://ebookreviewgal.com
When tragedy strikes, Tom’s life changes almost overnight – particularly when free-spirited Rose Callahan arrives to manage the college bookstore, then even more so when Tom learns he has a six-year-old son, who’s on his way for a sudden visit. Can things get even more complicated for Tom and those around him? Yes, they can…
When I spotted this book on the bargain table at my local bookstore, I was first drawn to the book cover. Then I read the inside cover and was intrigued enough to make the purchase. Yet, as I began to read, I admit that I had some trouble getting into the story. I felt as though the author meandered a bit too much and I began growing bored quickly. In fact, I almost gave up a few times, but I stayed with it. Actually, I’m glad that I did.
There are several very touching moments in Small Blessings. Several subplots are at work here and they do come together in the end. The characters are charmingly flawed and that’s what makes this such a lovely read. On the surface, many of the characters seem to be almost gruff and unfeeling, but the author does a wonderful job of opening them up so readers can see the complex emotions underneath – and after all, isn’t that how people really are? Tom is probably the one constant in the book – good natured, kind and consistent almost to a fault, but not quite. I found his character to be the anchor that holds the story together.
The ending was somewhat predictable, but I didn’t care one bit. It was exactly the way I’d hoped it would work out. Small Blessings is well worth sticking with through to the end. It’s a charming story about life, loss and love!
5 of 5 Stars, Susan Barton, https://ebookreviewgal.com
July 7, 2019
Livro simples e fácil de ler que nos traz personagens cheias de conflitos interiores, que tentam fazer o melhor pelos outros. Parte de uma situação simples, uma recém-chegada com uma atitude direta e descontraída que se vai ligar a todos de maneiras improváveis. Tom está casado com Marjory há 20 anos e não são felizes devido à depressão incurável da mulher. Um dia conhece Rose, com quem Marjory conversa de forma absolutamente normal, o que faz com que Rose seja valorizada por Tom, por destacar a humanidade da mulher. Entretanto, Tom recebe uma carta informando que o seu filho Henry, de dez anos, chegará na próxima 3a feira... Continuam a acontecer coisas inesperadas e as personagens desta história têm de analisar bem o que se passa consigo e tomar decisões acertadas. Livro terno, simpático, que nos recorda a necessidade de valorizar as pequenas alegrias da vida.
August 7, 2017
I enjoyed this book more than any other I've read recently. The author jumped right in to this story, and the engaging characters and unexpected surprises and turns of events that kept me wanting more. In addition, for the first time in a while, the ending did not disappoint. Not great literature, by any stretch, but an all-around enjoyable read nonetheless.
April 22, 2018
I found myself wanting to write down a lot of the quotes in this book. People choosing happiness in the midst of struggles resonated with me at this point in time. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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