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Pre Emily
Malé venovanie môže znamenať veľa...
Preto obľúbená autorka detských kníh Catriona Robinsonová vždy venovala svoje diela ľuďom, ktorí najväčšmi poznačili jej život – vrátane samotárskej vnučky Emily.
Emily sa nad venovaniami nikdy nezamýšľala. No keď Catriona nečakane zomrie, každé z nich sa stane omrvinkou na ceste, ktorá údajne vedie k stratenému, dosiaľ nepublikovanému rukopisu.
Je to záhada a vyriešiť ju môže iba Emily. Ibaže to znamená, že musí kráčať v šľapajach starej mamy do veľkého sveta, pred ktorým sa skoro celý život skrývala...
Preto obľúbená autorka detských kníh Catriona Robinsonová vždy venovala svoje diela ľuďom, ktorí najväčšmi poznačili jej život – vrátane samotárskej vnučky Emily.
Emily sa nad venovaniami nikdy nezamýšľala. No keď Catriona nečakane zomrie, každé z nich sa stane omrvinkou na ceste, ktorá údajne vedie k stratenému, dosiaľ nepublikovanému rukopisu.
Je to záhada a vyriešiť ju môže iba Emily. Ibaže to znamená, že musí kráčať v šľapajach starej mamy do veľkého sveta, pred ktorým sa skoro celý život skrývala...
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2019
7 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Slee
5 books100 followersKatherine Slee has a Masters in Modern History from Oxford University and is a member of MENSA who left the crazy and chaotic world of investment banking to enter the crazy and chaotic world of being a stay-at-home mother to two children and wife to a workaholic husband. She grew up as a bit of a tomboy, with scars on her knees and mud in her hair, and as a result developed a taste for everything from Star Wars to whiskey, with a dash of ornithology thrown into the mix. When she’s not either reading or writing, she enjoys baking (with various degrees of success), photography and walking the dog. Her favorite place to be is on the beach in France, where the light is always surprising and the ice cream is the best she’s ever tasted.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 22, 2020
Najradšej by som objala autorku a poďakovala sa jej za tak krásny zážitok a fantáziu. Ďalšia z kníh, ktorá mi sadla do momentálneho obdobia, nálady a ktorá je predovšetkým ľudská, plná života, prekrásna a ktorá stojí za každú jednu sekundu čítania.
July 5, 2020
Žiaľ je náročná emócia a skôr či neskôr zasiahne do života každého z nás. Pričom každý človek sa s ním vyrovnáva po svojom, no na druhej strane táto emócia nikdy úplne nezmizne. Hlavne ak je spojená so stratou blízkeho. Podobnú stratu prežila aj Emily – pri autonehode prišla o oboch rodičov a sama bola ťažko zranená, kvôli čomu sa aj po rokoch cíti izolovaná od ostatných ľudí. Prakticky žije v strachu, že ju ostatní neustále hodnotia mierou toho, čo všetko prežila a už ju nevnímajú ako ľudskú bytosť.
Aj vďaka tomuto strachu sa z nej stal prakticky asociál neschopný nadviazať normálny vzťah s nikým. A tak jej to vlastne aj vyhovuje, keď nemusí s nikým hovoriť a môže sa sústrediť na svoju prácu a pozorovanie vtákov, ktoré ju dokážu upokojiť. No a potom sa jej život opäť premení na nočnú moru, keď príde aj o starú mamu.
Tým pádom je jasné, že táto kniha je klasickým príkladom príbehu o vyrovnávaní sa so stratou, avšak bolo by chybou túto knihu odpísať len kvôli tomu. Pretože má v sebe prvky, ktoré ju ozvláštňujú. Prvou z nich je napríklad aj symbolika vtákov, keďže každá kapitola bola „venovaná“ inému operencovi a ich význam autorka osvetľuje aj v závere knihy.
Potom je tu fakt, že kniha sa venuje hlavne životu autorov a osobne si myslím, že väčšina ľudí sa pri tom bude podvedome usmievať – pretože je tu zobrazený práve ten neviazaný život, ktorí si väčšina z nás nejako podvedome spája s akýmkoľvek umelcom, nielen so spisovateľmi.
No a v neposlednom rade sú to emócie, ktoré sú v podobnom druhu príbehov stavebným kameňom. Pretože nejde o to, aby bol dej dynamický, aby tam boli akčné scény, napätie či zvraty. Ide len o emócie a o to, aby som ich ako čitateľ dokázala prežiť. A ja som ich prežila. Každý jeden. Ako keď som bola nahnevaná na Emilinu starú mamu, že Emily nútila prežiť všetku tú bolesť znovu. Alebo keď sa mi tisli slzy do očí kvôli všetkému, čím si Emily musela prejsť a stále prechádzala.
To všetko tejto knihe dalo nesmiernu silu a hlboko na mňa zapôsobila. Za čo sú čiastočne zodpovedné aj posolstvá ukryté medzi riadkami, z nich jedno silnejšie ako ostatné. Autorka prostredníctvom postáv ukazuje, že smútok, strata a bolesť sú súčasťou života a my by sme sa s nimi mali naučiť žiť. Pretože zatvárať pred nimi oči je možno ľahšie, ale kvôli strachu z vlastnej bolesti tak prídeme aj o mnoho pekných spomienok či pocitov. A myslím si, že to už je myšlienka, ktorú sa v tejto knihe rozhodne oplatí nájsť.
Pre Emily na prvý pohľad pôsobí ako tuctová kniha o tom, ako sa mladá žena vyrovnáva s bolestnou stratou. No bola by chyba myslieť si, že príbeh nemá čo ponúknuť. Autorka sa snažila svoju knihu ozvláštniť hneď niekoľkými prvkami, napríklad symbolikou vtákov alebo opisom neviazaného života umelcov. Avšak sú to práve emócie, ktoré na mňa najviac zapôsobili. Pretože som celé putovanie prežila s Emily, a tak som sa spolu s ňou hnevala na jej starú mamu, plakala som a trápila sa, ale takisto našla nádej. Lebo aj o tom je táto kniha – pripomína, že bolesť a zlé spomienky sú súčasťou života každého z nás, ale je nutné sa s nimi vyrovnať, pretože ak pred nimi budeme zatvárať oči, nikdy viac už nebudeme môcť slobodne lietať.
recenzia: https://lili-darknight.blogspot.com/2...
Aj vďaka tomuto strachu sa z nej stal prakticky asociál neschopný nadviazať normálny vzťah s nikým. A tak jej to vlastne aj vyhovuje, keď nemusí s nikým hovoriť a môže sa sústrediť na svoju prácu a pozorovanie vtákov, ktoré ju dokážu upokojiť. No a potom sa jej život opäť premení na nočnú moru, keď príde aj o starú mamu.
Tým pádom je jasné, že táto kniha je klasickým príkladom príbehu o vyrovnávaní sa so stratou, avšak bolo by chybou túto knihu odpísať len kvôli tomu. Pretože má v sebe prvky, ktoré ju ozvláštňujú. Prvou z nich je napríklad aj symbolika vtákov, keďže každá kapitola bola „venovaná“ inému operencovi a ich význam autorka osvetľuje aj v závere knihy.
Potom je tu fakt, že kniha sa venuje hlavne životu autorov a osobne si myslím, že väčšina ľudí sa pri tom bude podvedome usmievať – pretože je tu zobrazený práve ten neviazaný život, ktorí si väčšina z nás nejako podvedome spája s akýmkoľvek umelcom, nielen so spisovateľmi.
No a v neposlednom rade sú to emócie, ktoré sú v podobnom druhu príbehov stavebným kameňom. Pretože nejde o to, aby bol dej dynamický, aby tam boli akčné scény, napätie či zvraty. Ide len o emócie a o to, aby som ich ako čitateľ dokázala prežiť. A ja som ich prežila. Každý jeden. Ako keď som bola nahnevaná na Emilinu starú mamu, že Emily nútila prežiť všetku tú bolesť znovu. Alebo keď sa mi tisli slzy do očí kvôli všetkému, čím si Emily musela prejsť a stále prechádzala.
To všetko tejto knihe dalo nesmiernu silu a hlboko na mňa zapôsobila. Za čo sú čiastočne zodpovedné aj posolstvá ukryté medzi riadkami, z nich jedno silnejšie ako ostatné. Autorka prostredníctvom postáv ukazuje, že smútok, strata a bolesť sú súčasťou života a my by sme sa s nimi mali naučiť žiť. Pretože zatvárať pred nimi oči je možno ľahšie, ale kvôli strachu z vlastnej bolesti tak prídeme aj o mnoho pekných spomienok či pocitov. A myslím si, že to už je myšlienka, ktorú sa v tejto knihe rozhodne oplatí nájsť.
Pre Emily na prvý pohľad pôsobí ako tuctová kniha o tom, ako sa mladá žena vyrovnáva s bolestnou stratou. No bola by chyba myslieť si, že príbeh nemá čo ponúknuť. Autorka sa snažila svoju knihu ozvláštniť hneď niekoľkými prvkami, napríklad symbolikou vtákov alebo opisom neviazaného života umelcov. Avšak sú to práve emócie, ktoré na mňa najviac zapôsobili. Pretože som celé putovanie prežila s Emily, a tak som sa spolu s ňou hnevala na jej starú mamu, plakala som a trápila sa, ale takisto našla nádej. Lebo aj o tom je táto kniha – pripomína, že bolesť a zlé spomienky sú súčasťou života každého z nás, ale je nutné sa s nimi vyrovnať, pretože ak pred nimi budeme zatvárať oči, nikdy viac už nebudeme môcť slobodne lietať.
recenzia: https://lili-darknight.blogspot.com/2...
December 19, 2019
Katherine Slee has given us something pure and breathtaking in this, her debut novel. I truly adored every word of this amazing book. For Emily, begins with the death of her beloved grandmother, a famous children's author who wrote a series of books about a girl called Ophelia who discovers a magical atlas that transports her all over the globe. Emily tragically lost her parents in a car accident, that also left her severely injured. Losing her beloved grandmother has left her rudderless and bereft. But with a series of clues left by her grandmother in the form of books, letters and diary entries, Emily is pushed far out of her comfort zone and we are taken along with her as she travels to Paris, Rome, St Tropez. On this journey she discovers more about her grandmother than she ever knew, and at the same time, learns that she is stronger and more willing to try new things than she ever thought possible. It was truly a privilege to see Emily blossom and spread her wings, to see her soar despite her heartbreak. For book lovers this is a joy to read, it is thought provoking, philosophical and uplifting. Truly, a triumph.
January 23, 2021
Z tejto knižky mám dosť rozporuplné pocity. Námet aj celý príbeh boli veľmi zaujímavé - sirota Emily sa po smrti milovanej starej mamy púšťa do pátrania po starkinej minulosti. Ale tá forma... dialógy, správanie postáv, ale aj fázy deja boli pre mňa často úplne nelogické. Aj záverečná katarzia hlavnej hrdinky sa udiala náhle a rýchlo. A tieto veci u mňa stiahli dolu výsledný dojem.
February 5, 2021
A gentle read but perhaps too gentle for me. Just not enough happened and I hurried to finish it.
September 22, 2019
4.5 out of 5 stars
When you see a book with your name in its title then obviously you are drawn to it. This is about a girl called Emily whose grandmother brings her up after her after a horrible accident and when this strong lady is taken away from Emily because of cancer all she wants to do is hide away. As with all great role models this grandmother has expected this and planned a different journey for Emily and one that will be very challenging but so rewarding. We all take our parents and grandparents for granted, assuming we have time to ask about them or just take them for granted. When is it we really find out their histories? This adventure Emily goes on is one where she finds our so much about her grandmother whilst learning lessons she needed to have even if she doesn’t want to. Yes there is romance in this but what I love is that it’s not the core but more of a back story. Obviously I love Emily but the thing I love most is that she doesn’t realise her own strength. This is such a cosy book and I will look out for the author if and when she brings out another.
When you see a book with your name in its title then obviously you are drawn to it. This is about a girl called Emily whose grandmother brings her up after her after a horrible accident and when this strong lady is taken away from Emily because of cancer all she wants to do is hide away. As with all great role models this grandmother has expected this and planned a different journey for Emily and one that will be very challenging but so rewarding. We all take our parents and grandparents for granted, assuming we have time to ask about them or just take them for granted. When is it we really find out their histories? This adventure Emily goes on is one where she finds our so much about her grandmother whilst learning lessons she needed to have even if she doesn’t want to. Yes there is romance in this but what I love is that it’s not the core but more of a back story. Obviously I love Emily but the thing I love most is that she doesn’t realise her own strength. This is such a cosy book and I will look out for the author if and when she brings out another.
March 20, 2023
Klišé, šialené patetické klišé. Postavy zostali postavami - ploché, bez akéhokoľvek skutočného rozmeru, naplnené akurát tak nekonečnými rádobypremýšľavými vnútornými monológmi a prvoplánovými múdrami. Chcelo to byť o strate a odvahe, ale v tomto prevedení to teda skutočne nezafungovalo.
Ach. Dosť zlé to bolo. Nečítajte to. Toľko skutočne dobrých kníh je na svete...
Ach. Dosť zlé to bolo. Nečítajte to. Toľko skutočne dobrých kníh je na svete...
April 1, 2020
Katherine Slee how is this your first book? This story her debut novel was so emotionally charged I felt myself holding my breath in places and marvelling at the words literally bouncing off the pages.
I loved this gentle paced melancholy story about Emily and her beloved Grandma who had recently passed away.
Her Grandmother who was famous over the years creating a series of adventures about a girl called Ophelia and her magical atlas, an atlas that takes children and the readers on adventures around the world learning as they go. Imagination soaring I was taken on a journey of past and present and learned the sad history of Emily - how her parents died in a tragic car accident and how she had been cared for and guided by her Grandmother who had secrets from her own past locked away.
A series of clues left by her Catriona Robinson the country's famous author encourages Emily to leave her country life and travel to Paris, Rome and St Tropez. She unfolds some of the secrets of Catriona's past and learns for herself to try new things. This is quite a challenge for the young girl who is not used to venturing far from her cottage in Norfolk seeking solace in her illustrations.
Perfectly put together the plot progressed and the characters entwined in Emily's life perfectly.
It made me think about my own family and somehow with life challenges we sometimes take each other for granted.
Katherine Slee you created a joyful book, thought provoking and extremely enjoyable considering the heartbreak Emily encounters. I loved the addition of the bird stories - at various times the birds that Emily illustrated become part of the story. This book paints pictures galore in your mind as you go along and embrace the story with different animals taking part.
Book lovers I say read this when you want to marvel in diaries recorded from past loves and lives and get lost in different descriptions allowing you to fill in gaps for yourself.
I would love to see a sequel - what would Emily do next with her new found bravery? I could also see this being a movie but not sure it would translate across and maybe lose something?
You've got a lot to do in your second novel Katherine - I'll be looking out for you.
THANK YOU
I loved this gentle paced melancholy story about Emily and her beloved Grandma who had recently passed away.
Her Grandmother who was famous over the years creating a series of adventures about a girl called Ophelia and her magical atlas, an atlas that takes children and the readers on adventures around the world learning as they go. Imagination soaring I was taken on a journey of past and present and learned the sad history of Emily - how her parents died in a tragic car accident and how she had been cared for and guided by her Grandmother who had secrets from her own past locked away.
A series of clues left by her Catriona Robinson the country's famous author encourages Emily to leave her country life and travel to Paris, Rome and St Tropez. She unfolds some of the secrets of Catriona's past and learns for herself to try new things. This is quite a challenge for the young girl who is not used to venturing far from her cottage in Norfolk seeking solace in her illustrations.
Perfectly put together the plot progressed and the characters entwined in Emily's life perfectly.
It made me think about my own family and somehow with life challenges we sometimes take each other for granted.
Katherine Slee you created a joyful book, thought provoking and extremely enjoyable considering the heartbreak Emily encounters. I loved the addition of the bird stories - at various times the birds that Emily illustrated become part of the story. This book paints pictures galore in your mind as you go along and embrace the story with different animals taking part.
Book lovers I say read this when you want to marvel in diaries recorded from past loves and lives and get lost in different descriptions allowing you to fill in gaps for yourself.
I would love to see a sequel - what would Emily do next with her new found bravery? I could also see this being a movie but not sure it would translate across and maybe lose something?
You've got a lot to do in your second novel Katherine - I'll be looking out for you.
THANK YOU
June 18, 2020
Krásny príbeh o strate blízkych a hľadaní samého seba. ❤
October 22, 2021
Many thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for #Gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I don't really read many dedications in the front of books, maybe an odd one will catch my eye, do you? But a treasure hunt, based on dedications, that spans the length of Europe ... I'm totally here for it. I have to admit that the main character, Emily, is very annoying but the story is just lovely.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I wasn't prepared for how much I would enjoy this book!
I don't really read many dedications in the front of books, maybe an odd one will catch my eye, do you? But a treasure hunt, based on dedications, that spans the length of Europe ... I'm totally here for it. I have to admit that the main character, Emily, is very annoying but the story is just lovely.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I wasn't prepared for how much I would enjoy this book!
October 3, 2019
Delightful
I absolutely loved this book. It was so imaginative and yet so believable. Thank you for such a delightful read
I absolutely loved this book. It was so imaginative and yet so believable. Thank you for such a delightful read
October 12, 2019
This was story was so compelling to read. More so towards the latter chapters. A story of escaping the shackles of societies expectations, inter generational effects of avoidance and coping strategies.
This is a very emotionally evocative novel.
A perfectly constructed, interlaced plot that I found drew my attention as it developed.
I dislike too much scenery or personality description, preferring to allow my own imagination to fill the gaps. This book was spot on.
I highly recommend this novel.
This is a very emotionally evocative novel.
A perfectly constructed, interlaced plot that I found drew my attention as it developed.
I dislike too much scenery or personality description, preferring to allow my own imagination to fill the gaps. This book was spot on.
I highly recommend this novel.
June 19, 2020
Po smrti najbližšej príbuznej - starej mamy - zostáva Emily sama a opustená. No nie nadlho. Stará mama totiž niečo pre ňu pripravila aj na čas po svojej smrti, a tak jej krátko po pohrebe zaklope na dvere starší pán so psom a prvou indíciou. Rozšifrovaním odhalí, že ju síce čaká dedičstvo, ale až po nasledovaní a úspešnom odhalení všetkých nasledujúcich indícií. A tak sa Emily ocitá (sčasti proti vlastnej vôli) na ceste do Európy, do každého z dôležitých miest života starej mamy.
Po celý čas sledujeme vnútorný prerod Emily. Po veľkých tragédiách je ustráchaná, osamelá, stráni sa ľudí a nevychádza z domu. Utápa sa vo svojom smútku a maľuje. Až plán starej mamy ju dostáva z domu a to hneď do iných krajín. S každou ďalšou obálkou je ďalej od svojho pohodlného života, domova a nevedomky aj ďalej od osoby, ktorou bola. Zmena je postupná a zďaleka nie bezbolestná. Krok za krokom však smeruje k uzdraveniu a nádeji.
Táto kniha je balzam pre utrápenú dušu. Je to náruč, ktorá vás objíme, môžete si v nej poplakať nad svojou stratou, lebo ona chápe váš smútok a povie vám, aby ste si potom utreli slzy a zajtra začali odznova. Aby ste našli v sebe silu a pokračovali.
Kniha odzrkadľuje dôležité posolstvo pre všetkých, čo utrpeli bolestnú stratu: musíte odpustiť. Odpustiť tým, čo zomreli, že vás tu nechali a čo je najdôležitejšie, odpustiť sami sebe, že ste prežili. A nezabudnúť na to, že:
„Stále môžeš začať odznova... V tom spočíva čaro zajtrajška.“
♡BLOG♡Instagram♡
Po celý čas sledujeme vnútorný prerod Emily. Po veľkých tragédiách je ustráchaná, osamelá, stráni sa ľudí a nevychádza z domu. Utápa sa vo svojom smútku a maľuje. Až plán starej mamy ju dostáva z domu a to hneď do iných krajín. S každou ďalšou obálkou je ďalej od svojho pohodlného života, domova a nevedomky aj ďalej od osoby, ktorou bola. Zmena je postupná a zďaleka nie bezbolestná. Krok za krokom však smeruje k uzdraveniu a nádeji.
Táto kniha je balzam pre utrápenú dušu. Je to náruč, ktorá vás objíme, môžete si v nej poplakať nad svojou stratou, lebo ona chápe váš smútok a povie vám, aby ste si potom utreli slzy a zajtra začali odznova. Aby ste našli v sebe silu a pokračovali.
Kniha odzrkadľuje dôležité posolstvo pre všetkých, čo utrpeli bolestnú stratu: musíte odpustiť. Odpustiť tým, čo zomreli, že vás tu nechali a čo je najdôležitejšie, odpustiť sami sebe, že ste prežili. A nezabudnúť na to, že:
„Stále môžeš začať odznova... V tom spočíva čaro zajtrajška.“
♡BLOG♡Instagram♡
April 1, 2020
Katherine Slee how is this your first book? This story her debut novel was so emotionally charged I felt myself holding my breath in places and marvelling at the words literally bouncing off the pages.
I loved this gentle paced melancholy story about Emily and her beloved Grandma who had recently passed away.
Her Grandmother who was famous over the years creating a series of adventures about a girl called Ophelia and her magical atlas, an atlas that takes children and the readers on adventures around the world learning as they go. Imagination soaring I was taken on a journey of past and present and learned the sad history of Emily - how her parents died in a tragic car accident and how she had been cared for and guided by her Grandmother who had secrets from her own past locked away.
A series of clues left by her Catriona Robinson the country's famous author encourages Emily to leave her country life and travel to Paris, Rome and St Tropez. She unfolds some of the secrets of Catriona's past and learns for herself to try new things. This is quite a challenge for the young girl who is not used to venturing far from her cottage in Norfolk seeking solace in her illustrations.
Perfectly put together the plot progressed and the characters entwined in Emily's life perfectly.
It made me think about my own family and somehow with life challenges we sometimes take each other for granted.
Katherine Slee you created a joyful book, thought provoking and extremely enjoyable considering the heartbreak Emily encounters. I loved the addition of the bird stories - at various times the birds that Emily illustrated become part of the story. This book paints pictures galore in your mind as you go along and embrace the story with different animals taking part.
Book lovers I say read this when you want to marvel in diaries recorded from past loves and lives and get lost in different descriptions allowing you to fill in gaps for yourself.
I would love to see a sequel - what would Emily do next with her new found bravery? I could also see this being a movie but not sure it would translate across and maybe lose something?
You've got a lot to do in your second novel Katherine - I'll be looking out for you.
I loved this gentle paced melancholy story about Emily and her beloved Grandma who had recently passed away.
Her Grandmother who was famous over the years creating a series of adventures about a girl called Ophelia and her magical atlas, an atlas that takes children and the readers on adventures around the world learning as they go. Imagination soaring I was taken on a journey of past and present and learned the sad history of Emily - how her parents died in a tragic car accident and how she had been cared for and guided by her Grandmother who had secrets from her own past locked away.
A series of clues left by her Catriona Robinson the country's famous author encourages Emily to leave her country life and travel to Paris, Rome and St Tropez. She unfolds some of the secrets of Catriona's past and learns for herself to try new things. This is quite a challenge for the young girl who is not used to venturing far from her cottage in Norfolk seeking solace in her illustrations.
Perfectly put together the plot progressed and the characters entwined in Emily's life perfectly.
It made me think about my own family and somehow with life challenges we sometimes take each other for granted.
Katherine Slee you created a joyful book, thought provoking and extremely enjoyable considering the heartbreak Emily encounters. I loved the addition of the bird stories - at various times the birds that Emily illustrated become part of the story. This book paints pictures galore in your mind as you go along and embrace the story with different animals taking part.
Book lovers I say read this when you want to marvel in diaries recorded from past loves and lives and get lost in different descriptions allowing you to fill in gaps for yourself.
I would love to see a sequel - what would Emily do next with her new found bravery? I could also see this being a movie but not sure it would translate across and maybe lose something?
You've got a lot to do in your second novel Katherine - I'll be looking out for you.
June 23, 2020
Emily ilustruje od detstva až do dvadsaťosmičky knihy, ktoré s babičkou Catrionou tvoria pre deti. Catriona však umrie na rakovinu a Emily zanechá iba odkaz, že ak chce dediť, musí sa vybrať na dobrodružnú cestu po indíciách. Má to však háčik, keďže od autonehody, kedy zomreli Emiliny rodičia a samotná Emily ostala mrzákom, bývala hlavná hrdinka len s babkou v dome a s nikým sa nestretávala.
Toto bola taká pekná oddychová kniha. Nečakajte temné tajomstvá, skôr bežné životné udalosti. O postavy sa nemusíte báť, stačí len sledovať, kam idú. Kniha nie je dlhá, a hoci som mala v polovici pocit, že ju odložím, nakoniec pár udalostí nebolo tak, ako som očakávala, čo ma navnadilo čítať ďalej. Koniec bol ale celkom jasný, aj keď mi nesadla jeho dynamika, keďže sa zrazu všetci zariadili podľa vzoru Emilinej babičky Catriony.
Emily bola opísaná ako osoba, ktorá má veľa ťažkostí, či už fyzických, alebo psychických. Zo všetkých popisov si však najviac pamätám iba jazvu na tvári, lebo sa jej na ňu každý pozeral a nemohla kvôli nej poriadne vyslovovať. Emily mala totiž po zrážke s nákladiakom zoperovanú celú chrbticu, takže by som čakala nejaké drsnejšie popisy, ako silno jej to sťažuje život. Chýbal mi aj nejaký dlhší začiatok, možno aj úsek zo života s babičkou, aby som prijala, že má byť utiahnutá introvertka. Takto som bola len celý čas ubezpečovaná, že ona bola samotár a naozaj, toto by predtým nedokázala urobiť. Boli tam síce nejaké bloky a stresy, že to nedá a vráti sa domov, ale proste jej ich neveríte a už z podstaty knihy ani nečakáte, že by to vzdala. Všeobecne tam bolo veľa vysvetľovania zjavných vecí a málo rozvíjania charakterov, pričom boli niektoré medziľudské konflikty vyriešené veľmi povrchne a prvoplánovo.
Niektorým čitateľom sa zdala Emily otravná v tom, ako detinsky brala vzťahy, no predsalen, ak máte jediný nevinný zážitok v trinástich a potom žijete takmer do tridsiatky zmrzačený v chalúpke, asi nebudete odrazu vzťahovo zrelý.
Kniha je autorkinou prvotinou a z toho pohľadu to nebolo ani extra dobré, ani extra zlé. Posolstvo má, aj keď bije čitateľa priamo medzi oči. Podľa mňa fajn kniha na pohodové dovolenkové čítanie.
Toto bola taká pekná oddychová kniha. Nečakajte temné tajomstvá, skôr bežné životné udalosti. O postavy sa nemusíte báť, stačí len sledovať, kam idú. Kniha nie je dlhá, a hoci som mala v polovici pocit, že ju odložím, nakoniec pár udalostí nebolo tak, ako som očakávala, čo ma navnadilo čítať ďalej. Koniec bol ale celkom jasný, aj keď mi nesadla jeho dynamika, keďže sa zrazu všetci zariadili podľa vzoru Emilinej babičky Catriony.
Emily bola opísaná ako osoba, ktorá má veľa ťažkostí, či už fyzických, alebo psychických. Zo všetkých popisov si však najviac pamätám iba jazvu na tvári, lebo sa jej na ňu každý pozeral a nemohla kvôli nej poriadne vyslovovať. Emily mala totiž po zrážke s nákladiakom zoperovanú celú chrbticu, takže by som čakala nejaké drsnejšie popisy, ako silno jej to sťažuje život. Chýbal mi aj nejaký dlhší začiatok, možno aj úsek zo života s babičkou, aby som prijala, že má byť utiahnutá introvertka. Takto som bola len celý čas ubezpečovaná, že ona bola samotár a naozaj, toto by predtým nedokázala urobiť. Boli tam síce nejaké bloky a stresy, že to nedá a vráti sa domov, ale proste jej ich neveríte a už z podstaty knihy ani nečakáte, že by to vzdala. Všeobecne tam bolo veľa vysvetľovania zjavných vecí a málo rozvíjania charakterov, pričom boli niektoré medziľudské konflikty vyriešené veľmi povrchne a prvoplánovo.
Niektorým čitateľom sa zdala Emily otravná v tom, ako detinsky brala vzťahy, no predsalen, ak máte jediný nevinný zážitok v trinástich a potom žijete takmer do tridsiatky zmrzačený v chalúpke, asi nebudete odrazu vzťahovo zrelý.
Kniha je autorkinou prvotinou a z toho pohľadu to nebolo ani extra dobré, ani extra zlé. Posolstvo má, aj keď bije čitateľa priamo medzi oči. Podľa mňa fajn kniha na pohodové dovolenkové čítanie.
December 2, 2019
Emily has been set a puzzle by her recently deceased grandmother, one she must complete to get her inheritance. She is accompanied on her journey by a childhood friend & in great “quest” tradition, on the way she discovers far more than the answers to the clues, she discovers more about her grandmother, and of course about herself and her future.
I found the start of the book hard going – I think it was because it went straight into the obituary of Catriona Robinson with no context - however once I persevered through the first chapter I was completely drawn into this book & didn’t want to stop reading! The story weaves elements of mystery, love, heartache and friendship together into a quest that pushed Emily out of her comfort zone, and takes the reader on a journey that to locations that would be completely unexpected at the start yet totally believable as they unfold.
I really like the inclusion of the birds - at various times they become companions, messengers, keepers of secrets and they help to change the pace of the story. At one point in the story I wished I could have seen the illustrations that are described, yet I realised that the way they are described enables me to picture them in my own mind. There is something in the way that it is written that makes it seem vivid and real – in many way I can see this easily translating to a screen adaptation yet I fear that it would lose some of its charm if it did. As it stands, it’s a charming example of the type of book that paints pictures in your mind as you read it, in a way that so many modern books don’t.
Whilst I would LOVE to hear what Emily did next, I suspect that will also have to live in my imagination as it doesn’t feel like a book that needs a sequel
This is a debut novel & the author has a lot to live up to with her next one - I will definitely be looking out for more!
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I found the start of the book hard going – I think it was because it went straight into the obituary of Catriona Robinson with no context - however once I persevered through the first chapter I was completely drawn into this book & didn’t want to stop reading! The story weaves elements of mystery, love, heartache and friendship together into a quest that pushed Emily out of her comfort zone, and takes the reader on a journey that to locations that would be completely unexpected at the start yet totally believable as they unfold.
I really like the inclusion of the birds - at various times they become companions, messengers, keepers of secrets and they help to change the pace of the story. At one point in the story I wished I could have seen the illustrations that are described, yet I realised that the way they are described enables me to picture them in my own mind. There is something in the way that it is written that makes it seem vivid and real – in many way I can see this easily translating to a screen adaptation yet I fear that it would lose some of its charm if it did. As it stands, it’s a charming example of the type of book that paints pictures in your mind as you read it, in a way that so many modern books don’t.
Whilst I would LOVE to hear what Emily did next, I suspect that will also have to live in my imagination as it doesn’t feel like a book that needs a sequel
This is a debut novel & the author has a lot to live up to with her next one - I will definitely be looking out for more!
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2019
For Emily
Everyone has decisions to make in life - with hindsight some would be different. Can we be overprotective of those we love? Is it cruel to be kind? Should we put our own needs before others?
As recorded in her diaries, Catriona chooses to live her life following her own desires and impulses regardless of the affect these have on others who love her. The life she chooses for Emily has repercussions which have to be addressed with shock tactics.
Emily has been damaged physically and emotionally - a situation exacerbated by Catriona’s decision to protect her from the world. Insecure, isolated Emily is forced to comply with Catriona’s “treasure hunt” and find the inner strength to save her home and find her true talent.
“For Emily” is a story of love and loss, determination and courage and a developing understanding of life in the outside world. A voyage of discovery for all by involving the reader at every page.
Everyone has decisions to make in life - with hindsight some would be different. Can we be overprotective of those we love? Is it cruel to be kind? Should we put our own needs before others?
As recorded in her diaries, Catriona chooses to live her life following her own desires and impulses regardless of the affect these have on others who love her. The life she chooses for Emily has repercussions which have to be addressed with shock tactics.
Emily has been damaged physically and emotionally - a situation exacerbated by Catriona’s decision to protect her from the world. Insecure, isolated Emily is forced to comply with Catriona’s “treasure hunt” and find the inner strength to save her home and find her true talent.
“For Emily” is a story of love and loss, determination and courage and a developing understanding of life in the outside world. A voyage of discovery for all by involving the reader at every page.
July 31, 2019
Do you read book dedications? I do, always, and quite often they make me wonder about that person, especially if it's just one name or an initial.
It seems to be something Katherine Slee has also pondered, given that her debut, For Emily, centres around a series of cryptic dedications in children’s books written by the title character’s beloved grandmother.
It’s quite a complex story, weaving several plot lines into one, but it is all brought together beautifully.
I really liked the way bruised but brave Emily was written, with just a hint of magic about her. I also enjoyed learning more about her grandmother and the whimsical stories she wrote, which Emily illustrated (I wouldn't have minded reading them too).
There were some points I would have liked to have seen developed and explored more, such as her past relationship with her travel companion (no spoilers) but overall, it is clever, engaging and face-paced.
It seems to be something Katherine Slee has also pondered, given that her debut, For Emily, centres around a series of cryptic dedications in children’s books written by the title character’s beloved grandmother.
It’s quite a complex story, weaving several plot lines into one, but it is all brought together beautifully.
I really liked the way bruised but brave Emily was written, with just a hint of magic about her. I also enjoyed learning more about her grandmother and the whimsical stories she wrote, which Emily illustrated (I wouldn't have minded reading them too).
There were some points I would have liked to have seen developed and explored more, such as her past relationship with her travel companion (no spoilers) but overall, it is clever, engaging and face-paced.
May 26, 2020
This book started out slow (and a bit too self-aware?), but slowly built to an emotional depth that hooked me and surprised me. It certainly left beautiful melancholic feelings once it was gone.
January 8, 2022
“Každá interakcia, aj zdanlivo bezvýznamná, má vplyv na to, kým sa človek stane. Každý rozhovor, každé sklamanie, každý dotyk spolu vytvárajú zmätok menom život.”
Toto je príbeh, ktorý by ste si mali prečítať, hoci jeho spracovanie ma fakt štvalo.
Je to silný príbeh nielen o prekonávaní smútku, ako naznačuje už anotácia. Pre mňa bol najmä o slobode - o sile jednej ženy zvoliť si ťažšiu, no slobodnú cestu životom. Je o obete a láske, o priateľstve, o veľmi silných a formujúcich vzťahoch. No je aj o odvahe žiť naplno, nebáť sa skúšať nové, hoci aj desivé veci.
Hodnotenie tejto knihy bolo pre mňa nesmierne rozporuplné, pretože samotný príbeh a jeho hlavná myšlienka boli nádherné - s prehľadom 5/5.
No jeho spracovanie bolo značne slabšie - tak na 3/5. Predovšetkým som mala problém uveriť postavám, ktoré mi pripadali dvojrozmerné, bez hĺbky.
Rozprávanie na mňa pôsobilo, akoby som sa na príbeh pozerala cez hrubé sklo, ktoré mi bráni vidieť detaily, vnímať zmeny nálad jednotlivých postáv a vnímať ich komplexne, ako keby stáli priamo predo mnou.
Celý príbeh okolo Emily bol pre mňa menej zaujímavý než ten o jej starej mame Catrione, ktorý v knihe postupne objavuje aj samotná Emily.
No napriek všetkým výhradám ma koniec absolútne dostal - odhalenie o pôvode detských kníh o dievčatku menom Ofélia, ktoré písala Catriona. Bolo to prekvapivé a nádherné.
Páčilo sa mi ornitologické štruktúrovanie knihy, kde každá kapitola nesie meno nejakého vtáčika spolu s jeho kresbou. Na konci knihy nájdete ich kompletný zoznam, v ktorom je vysvetlená symbolika každého jedného, pričom tá korešponduje s obsahom tejktorej kapitoly podľa príslušného vtáčika. Takže ich priradenie ku kapitolám nie je vôbec náhodné, má to nečakanú logiku a hĺbku.
Pre Emily je autorkina prvotina. Celkom som zvedavá, či by sa mi jej ďalšia kniha páčila aj spracovaním. Ak by šlo o podobne ladený príbeh, určite si prečítam.
Ak radi lúštite záhady a máte radi jemne ladené príbehy o vzťahoch (nielen tých mileneckých), knihu vám určite odporúčam.
Toto je príbeh, ktorý by ste si mali prečítať, hoci jeho spracovanie ma fakt štvalo.
Je to silný príbeh nielen o prekonávaní smútku, ako naznačuje už anotácia. Pre mňa bol najmä o slobode - o sile jednej ženy zvoliť si ťažšiu, no slobodnú cestu životom. Je o obete a láske, o priateľstve, o veľmi silných a formujúcich vzťahoch. No je aj o odvahe žiť naplno, nebáť sa skúšať nové, hoci aj desivé veci.
Hodnotenie tejto knihy bolo pre mňa nesmierne rozporuplné, pretože samotný príbeh a jeho hlavná myšlienka boli nádherné - s prehľadom 5/5.
No jeho spracovanie bolo značne slabšie - tak na 3/5. Predovšetkým som mala problém uveriť postavám, ktoré mi pripadali dvojrozmerné, bez hĺbky.
Rozprávanie na mňa pôsobilo, akoby som sa na príbeh pozerala cez hrubé sklo, ktoré mi bráni vidieť detaily, vnímať zmeny nálad jednotlivých postáv a vnímať ich komplexne, ako keby stáli priamo predo mnou.
Celý príbeh okolo Emily bol pre mňa menej zaujímavý než ten o jej starej mame Catrione, ktorý v knihe postupne objavuje aj samotná Emily.
No napriek všetkým výhradám ma koniec absolútne dostal - odhalenie o pôvode detských kníh o dievčatku menom Ofélia, ktoré písala Catriona. Bolo to prekvapivé a nádherné.
Páčilo sa mi ornitologické štruktúrovanie knihy, kde každá kapitola nesie meno nejakého vtáčika spolu s jeho kresbou. Na konci knihy nájdete ich kompletný zoznam, v ktorom je vysvetlená symbolika každého jedného, pričom tá korešponduje s obsahom tejktorej kapitoly podľa príslušného vtáčika. Takže ich priradenie ku kapitolám nie je vôbec náhodné, má to nečakanú logiku a hĺbku.
Pre Emily je autorkina prvotina. Celkom som zvedavá, či by sa mi jej ďalšia kniha páčila aj spracovaním. Ak by šlo o podobne ladený príbeh, určite si prečítam.
Ak radi lúštite záhady a máte radi jemne ladené príbehy o vzťahoch (nielen tých mileneckých), knihu vám určite odporúčam.
May 25, 2020
When famous children’s author Catriona Robinson chooses to reject a second round of chemotherapy and allow her life to end, she leaves behind an international assembly of mourners. People across the world had been touched by her Ophelia series, about a young disabled girl who embarks on a number of adventures with the help of a magical atlas and her loyal pet duck. Also left behind, on a more personal scale, is Catriona’s granddaughter Emily. Now 28, Emily is a reclusive freelance artist who has taken to squirrelling herself away in the cottage she shared with her grandmother.
Without Catriona’s effervescence to force her out of herself, the reader can already notice Emily’s declining social habits: she ignores letters from well-wishers, unplugs the phone, and procrastinates on her illustration deadlines. All of this is done, it seems, in order for Emily to avoid having to speak. Her connection to the Ophelia series is quickly revealed to be a very literal one: Catriona took her inspiration from facilitating the recovery of her granddaughter, left in a critical state after the brutal car crash which claimed the lives of both of her parents. At 13, Emily had to learn how to walk and talk again, and was left with permanent facial scarring which would have inhibit her speech for the rest of her life.
Catriona may have been protective over her granddaughter to the point of swaddling her, but she was not blind to the consequences such coddling would bring once she was gone. Therefore, she planned one final adventure for Emily, leaving a series of clues at key locations from her own life for her granddaughter to follow, with the promise of an unfinished manuscript at the end. The clues, taken from Catriona’s diary entries, guide Emily from her Norfolk home to London, France, and Italy, forcing her to face her insecurities and fears of the wider world.
There is much to like about For Emily, if you’re in the mood for some escapism. Unhindered by financial limits thanks to Catriona’s enormous wealth, Emily and her childhood friend Tyler are able to flit around Europe to their heart’s content. Katherine Slee’s prose is whimsical and rosy, making for an almost summery reading experience. If we were allowed to leave the house, I probably would have spent an enjoyable couple of hours reading this in a beer garden or outside a Caffe Nero. However, I still managed to have a nice time while staring yearningly at the sunlight streaking through my curtains. Somehow, Slee has managed to write a perfect quarantine novel before she even knew that quarantine was going to happen. It was a welcome experience for me to forget the immediate world and follow two rich kids gallivanting around.
We must be in truly dire straits if I’m expressing happiness at the prospect of reading about two Tories going on holiday.
For Emily is certainly not without its faults, which become increasingly more glaring as the novel progresses. While the writing is initially charming, it suffers horribly from Unnecessary Double Adverb Syndrome. I wish I’d taken a note of how many times I read “really quite adjective,” because it might have given a vindictive purpose to my indignation. A more damning issue with this novel, however, is its protagonist. Emily has been critically mis-aged, with Slee expecting us to believe that a 28 year old woman would think and act like a petulant teenager. When Tyler’s girlfriend turns up after a couple of days’ worth of unremarkable maybe-flirting, Emily is consumed by jealousy to the point of becoming openly venomous to Tyler and Phoebe. For me, this decision is inexplicable. I can see no reason why Emily couldn’t have been aged down, so that her immaturity would be less inconspicuous and irritating to the reader.
I can also see no reason why someone, preferably an editor who is paid to notice things like this, couldn’t have called Slee out on the blatantly misogynistic tropes which are perpetuated in For Emily. Phoebe, for example, is depicted as being annoying, spoiled, a normie, and too perfect, for the terrible transgression of being a loyal girlfriend to a disloyal man. At no point is Tyler punished for his behaviour, and at no point does Emily reflect on her tendency to blame the woman connected to the man who hurt her instead of the root cause.
Slee gets tantalisingly close to providing some meaningful commentary on Emily’s perceptions of women, during a conversation held between Emily and Phoebe on a train. Emily learns that Phoebe is a Cambridge graduate who wants to run wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, who suffers from mental illness which leads to self harm. Instead of acknowledging that she has judged Phoebe out of jealousy, however, Emily decides to grudgingly accept her on account of her being damaged goods. It’s distasteful, and part of a larger Not Like Other Girls trope which rears its hideous head consistently during For Emily. Phoebe is described by Tyler, verbatim, as being “too normal” for him. The prospective wildlife sanctuary owner is too normal for the white boy who carries his acoustic around with him so that he can play country music in coffee shops. Personally, I found Phoebe to be the only entirely tolerable character in the novel. Perhaps I’m not damaged enough. Or perhaps Slee has some internalised misogyny which she needs to tackle.
I will briefly mention that there are also some questionable representations of disability in this book, such as the only thing truly separating Emily and Phoebe being Emily’s disfigurement, implying that the only thing making Emily less normal and more interesting than Phoebe is her trauma, Emily suddenly getting over her stutter because the plot says so, and the good old chestnut of Emily being secretly beautiful underneath her scars. There’s also a scar kissing scene, and scar kissing scenes always invoke a physical response of nausea in me. However, I am not going to delve too deep into a topic I have no lived experience of. I instead encourage you to come to your own conclusions.
For Emily is a fine afternoon read if you want to forget that the wider world exists, which makes it ideal for the current climate. However, if weird perceptions about women and disabilities get on your nerves, I’d recommend looking elsewhere for your feel-good book.
Without Catriona’s effervescence to force her out of herself, the reader can already notice Emily’s declining social habits: she ignores letters from well-wishers, unplugs the phone, and procrastinates on her illustration deadlines. All of this is done, it seems, in order for Emily to avoid having to speak. Her connection to the Ophelia series is quickly revealed to be a very literal one: Catriona took her inspiration from facilitating the recovery of her granddaughter, left in a critical state after the brutal car crash which claimed the lives of both of her parents. At 13, Emily had to learn how to walk and talk again, and was left with permanent facial scarring which would have inhibit her speech for the rest of her life.
Catriona may have been protective over her granddaughter to the point of swaddling her, but she was not blind to the consequences such coddling would bring once she was gone. Therefore, she planned one final adventure for Emily, leaving a series of clues at key locations from her own life for her granddaughter to follow, with the promise of an unfinished manuscript at the end. The clues, taken from Catriona’s diary entries, guide Emily from her Norfolk home to London, France, and Italy, forcing her to face her insecurities and fears of the wider world.
There is much to like about For Emily, if you’re in the mood for some escapism. Unhindered by financial limits thanks to Catriona’s enormous wealth, Emily and her childhood friend Tyler are able to flit around Europe to their heart’s content. Katherine Slee’s prose is whimsical and rosy, making for an almost summery reading experience. If we were allowed to leave the house, I probably would have spent an enjoyable couple of hours reading this in a beer garden or outside a Caffe Nero. However, I still managed to have a nice time while staring yearningly at the sunlight streaking through my curtains. Somehow, Slee has managed to write a perfect quarantine novel before she even knew that quarantine was going to happen. It was a welcome experience for me to forget the immediate world and follow two rich kids gallivanting around.
We must be in truly dire straits if I’m expressing happiness at the prospect of reading about two Tories going on holiday.
For Emily is certainly not without its faults, which become increasingly more glaring as the novel progresses. While the writing is initially charming, it suffers horribly from Unnecessary Double Adverb Syndrome. I wish I’d taken a note of how many times I read “really quite adjective,” because it might have given a vindictive purpose to my indignation. A more damning issue with this novel, however, is its protagonist. Emily has been critically mis-aged, with Slee expecting us to believe that a 28 year old woman would think and act like a petulant teenager. When Tyler’s girlfriend turns up after a couple of days’ worth of unremarkable maybe-flirting, Emily is consumed by jealousy to the point of becoming openly venomous to Tyler and Phoebe. For me, this decision is inexplicable. I can see no reason why Emily couldn’t have been aged down, so that her immaturity would be less inconspicuous and irritating to the reader.
I can also see no reason why someone, preferably an editor who is paid to notice things like this, couldn’t have called Slee out on the blatantly misogynistic tropes which are perpetuated in For Emily. Phoebe, for example, is depicted as being annoying, spoiled, a normie, and too perfect, for the terrible transgression of being a loyal girlfriend to a disloyal man. At no point is Tyler punished for his behaviour, and at no point does Emily reflect on her tendency to blame the woman connected to the man who hurt her instead of the root cause.
Slee gets tantalisingly close to providing some meaningful commentary on Emily’s perceptions of women, during a conversation held between Emily and Phoebe on a train. Emily learns that Phoebe is a Cambridge graduate who wants to run wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, who suffers from mental illness which leads to self harm. Instead of acknowledging that she has judged Phoebe out of jealousy, however, Emily decides to grudgingly accept her on account of her being damaged goods. It’s distasteful, and part of a larger Not Like Other Girls trope which rears its hideous head consistently during For Emily. Phoebe is described by Tyler, verbatim, as being “too normal” for him. The prospective wildlife sanctuary owner is too normal for the white boy who carries his acoustic around with him so that he can play country music in coffee shops. Personally, I found Phoebe to be the only entirely tolerable character in the novel. Perhaps I’m not damaged enough. Or perhaps Slee has some internalised misogyny which she needs to tackle.
I will briefly mention that there are also some questionable representations of disability in this book, such as the only thing truly separating Emily and Phoebe being Emily’s disfigurement, implying that the only thing making Emily less normal and more interesting than Phoebe is her trauma, Emily suddenly getting over her stutter because the plot says so, and the good old chestnut of Emily being secretly beautiful underneath her scars. There’s also a scar kissing scene, and scar kissing scenes always invoke a physical response of nausea in me. However, I am not going to delve too deep into a topic I have no lived experience of. I instead encourage you to come to your own conclusions.
For Emily is a fine afternoon read if you want to forget that the wider world exists, which makes it ideal for the current climate. However, if weird perceptions about women and disabilities get on your nerves, I’d recommend looking elsewhere for your feel-good book.
August 21, 2020
Kniha, ktorá maľuje obrazy len slovami... ako sa predo mnou rozvíjal príbeh, predstavovala som si spomínané knihy a ilustrácie k nim. Úprimne, zaujímali ma azda aj viac ako samotný príbeh a škoda, že som si ich musela iba predstavovať. Je možné, že to raz niekto sfilmuje a môže to byť až čarovne poetické. Emily žije v ústraní iba so starou mamou. No tá si svoju vnučku pozná a vie, ako sa bojí zmeny a preto nechce, aby ostala osamote iba so svojím žiaľomm keď sa jej čas naplní. Zanecháva jej odkazy, ktoré musí nasledovať a rozlúštiť. Jedna stopa vedie k ďalšej a tá zase k ďalšej. Precestuje časť sveta a popri ľuďoch, ktorí znamenali pre starú mamu veľa, spoznáva aj jej mladosť. Prihovára sa jej cez venovania a cez denníky. Milé to bolo. A láskavé. Ale ak hľadáte veľké tajomstvo, asi budete sklamaní. Je to príbeh o hľadaní priateľstva, lásky a samej seba. O žiali, o strácaní a o nachádzaní. Vtáčie príbehy sa stali miestami aj súčasťou knihy, každý kapitola je o inom operencovi, ich význam si môžete pozrieť na konci knižky. Odporúčam.
April 6, 2020
This book is a really special book.. I think it is the sort of book that will mean so many different things to so many different people for so many different reasons. It reads like a light easy to read book but that would be to underestimate its underlying message. It touches on grief, relationships, family, and love in a really unique and beautiful way but manages to do it without being overly sentimental or with any pity.
This book follows the journey of Emily across Europe as she follows the clues left in her Grandmother’s books and letters following her death hoping to lead her to a lost, unpublished manuscript, but with all great journeys Emily finds so much more than she was looking for.
This book follows the journey of Emily across Europe as she follows the clues left in her Grandmother’s books and letters following her death hoping to lead her to a lost, unpublished manuscript, but with all great journeys Emily finds so much more than she was looking for.
February 8, 2020
Glorious!
Gone straight to the top of my best reads for 2020 .
A quest, through the picturesque and the painful, so beautifully depicted and all the while I wished I knew a little duck to take me on adventures and a man like Tyler to come home to and tell about them.
Gone straight to the top of my best reads for 2020 .
A quest, through the picturesque and the painful, so beautifully depicted and all the while I wished I knew a little duck to take me on adventures and a man like Tyler to come home to and tell about them.
August 14, 2021
The little birds in each chapter is so cute. Slee revealed that she wanted Emily to have a passion for this book and this idea was ABSOLUTELY well thought out. My jaw is dropped to the fact that this is Slee's DEBUT book!? Like HOW?
This is such a heartbreaking story about a girl called Emily (what a surprise) and she has to complete a quest that her grandmother made before she died. If she completes it, she gets all her grandmother's belongings, whereas if she doesn't complete it, she has to move out. Her parents had died in a car crash that left Emily paralyzed. She struggles to talk to people caused by the trauma and drawing is the only way she can express herself to the world. Her grandmother was an author and she had clues written in each of her books for the quest from a series of books she had made of Ophelia, a girl in a wheelchair which is based on Emily's life story, which sends Emily to meet her grandmother's best friends from the past in Italy, France and England.
Reasons why I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book:
1) kind of emotional
2) written in 3rd person
3) illustrations
My heart melted when her grandmother said that she didn't want anyone else to draw the pictures of Ophelia in her books, besides Emily. I thought that it gave her the confidence which she didn't have and it would had brought her and her grandmother closer together.
Recommend to absolutely everyone!
This is such a heartbreaking story about a girl called Emily (what a surprise) and she has to complete a quest that her grandmother made before she died. If she completes it, she gets all her grandmother's belongings, whereas if she doesn't complete it, she has to move out. Her parents had died in a car crash that left Emily paralyzed. She struggles to talk to people caused by the trauma and drawing is the only way she can express herself to the world. Her grandmother was an author and she had clues written in each of her books for the quest from a series of books she had made of Ophelia, a girl in a wheelchair which is based on Emily's life story, which sends Emily to meet her grandmother's best friends from the past in Italy, France and England.
Reasons why I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this book:
1) kind of emotional
2) written in 3rd person
3) illustrations
My heart melted when her grandmother said that she didn't want anyone else to draw the pictures of Ophelia in her books, besides Emily. I thought that it gave her the confidence which she didn't have and it would had brought her and her grandmother closer together.
Recommend to absolutely everyone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
This is a rather unusual book. No need to repeat all the other reviews who have described the premise. Overall I enjoyed the read although got rather bogged down in the middle with the repetitive nature of the 'treasure hunt'. Like many other books, I have to really like (or hate) the characters to engage and I could never really warm to Emily so in the end I wanted to finish the read and move on. The idea is great but the execution a little laboured in my opinion. It deserves 3.5 stars in my opinion.
November 3, 2019
Amazing debut novel.
The clever opening sets the scene for a creative, exceptionally well written and engaging story of a young woman rediscovering herself after her grandmother’s death.
Would strongly recommend.
The clever opening sets the scene for a creative, exceptionally well written and engaging story of a young woman rediscovering herself after her grandmother’s death.
Would strongly recommend.
May 23, 2020
Wow, just wow. This is the 80th book I've read this year (I was furloughed two months ago so I'm reading more than usual) and this is definitely one of my favourite books of the year.
I have a small confession. The main reason I looked at the book on NetGalley was because my own daughter is called Emily. I liked the sound of the synopsis and asked Orion Publishing Group for a digital ARC which I'm delighted to say they provided. My thoughts are my own and not influenced by the free copy.
This is a stunning novel which left me feeling bereft when I finished it, not because I didn't enjoy the ending (I loved the ending) but because I had become so involved in Emily's journey of self discovery.
The book looks at how Emily's grandmother, Catriona, sends her granddaughter on a 'treasure hunt' after Catriona dies. Emily needs to learn how to be independent, how to deal with her past (including the tragic accident which killed her parents and left her seriously injured) and to meet the people who met and loved her grandmother after she left the UK for adventures rather than marry young and settle down.
Each chapter features a different bird, partly because Emily loves birds, especially drawing and painting birds. The stories of Emily and Catriona unfold as Emily travels to London, then France and Italy. She believes she is looking for the 'last book' her grandmother wrote, however the truth is much deeper.
The strands of the stories are woven so well, including the use of the birds, the main characters are easy to visualise and feel empathy for, and the love of books is apparent (book shops, libraries, books). I will be treating myself to a paperback copy of this book - and maybe a copy for my own Emily (she isn't good at using bookmarks, so we won't be sharing a copy!).
This book is being published in paperback in the UK on Thursday 28th May 2020.
I have a small confession. The main reason I looked at the book on NetGalley was because my own daughter is called Emily. I liked the sound of the synopsis and asked Orion Publishing Group for a digital ARC which I'm delighted to say they provided. My thoughts are my own and not influenced by the free copy.
This is a stunning novel which left me feeling bereft when I finished it, not because I didn't enjoy the ending (I loved the ending) but because I had become so involved in Emily's journey of self discovery.
The book looks at how Emily's grandmother, Catriona, sends her granddaughter on a 'treasure hunt' after Catriona dies. Emily needs to learn how to be independent, how to deal with her past (including the tragic accident which killed her parents and left her seriously injured) and to meet the people who met and loved her grandmother after she left the UK for adventures rather than marry young and settle down.
Each chapter features a different bird, partly because Emily loves birds, especially drawing and painting birds. The stories of Emily and Catriona unfold as Emily travels to London, then France and Italy. She believes she is looking for the 'last book' her grandmother wrote, however the truth is much deeper.
The strands of the stories are woven so well, including the use of the birds, the main characters are easy to visualise and feel empathy for, and the love of books is apparent (book shops, libraries, books). I will be treating myself to a paperback copy of this book - and maybe a copy for my own Emily (she isn't good at using bookmarks, so we won't be sharing a copy!).
This book is being published in paperback in the UK on Thursday 28th May 2020.
December 31, 2019
Renowned children's author Catriona Robinson has dedicated all her books to the people that have meant something to her during her life.
Her granddaughter Emily, one of the dedicatees has never given it much thought until the death of her grandmother.
Catriona became Emily's life when a tragic accident robbed her of her beloved parents and for a while the ability to walk, talk and function as a human being.
Now seemingly alone in the world, a final task from her grandmother is to go and search out all those that have had books dedicated to them. Popularity of Catriona means that no one wants to believe there is no more stories to come and the trip suddenly becomes a quest for a lost manuscript, the final story, the one that has yet to be published.
The only person that can discover any of this is Emily. But since her accident, Emily exists in a very small world, near the cottage in Norfolk, not conversing with anyone and seeking solace in the illustrations she did for her Grandmothers work but also in the birds she starts to draw after her grandmother dies.
However, it seems this legacy has to be fulfilled and Emily has to break down barriers and step outside what she knows.
This is a quiet tale of grief and rediscovery of a life seemingly lost and one that has been lived through words and pictures which have come alive as Emily goes on this mystery tour - but where will it end?
The writing is carefully constructed, the use of birds is a unique way of creating chapters and sections all linked in with the beautiful drawings described.
In my opinion a sleeper of a debut novel which is going to take people by surprise and will undoubtedly become a hit. It was a hit with me.
Her granddaughter Emily, one of the dedicatees has never given it much thought until the death of her grandmother.
Catriona became Emily's life when a tragic accident robbed her of her beloved parents and for a while the ability to walk, talk and function as a human being.
Now seemingly alone in the world, a final task from her grandmother is to go and search out all those that have had books dedicated to them. Popularity of Catriona means that no one wants to believe there is no more stories to come and the trip suddenly becomes a quest for a lost manuscript, the final story, the one that has yet to be published.
The only person that can discover any of this is Emily. But since her accident, Emily exists in a very small world, near the cottage in Norfolk, not conversing with anyone and seeking solace in the illustrations she did for her Grandmothers work but also in the birds she starts to draw after her grandmother dies.
However, it seems this legacy has to be fulfilled and Emily has to break down barriers and step outside what she knows.
This is a quiet tale of grief and rediscovery of a life seemingly lost and one that has been lived through words and pictures which have come alive as Emily goes on this mystery tour - but where will it end?
The writing is carefully constructed, the use of birds is a unique way of creating chapters and sections all linked in with the beautiful drawings described.
In my opinion a sleeper of a debut novel which is going to take people by surprise and will undoubtedly become a hit. It was a hit with me.
February 18, 2020
This is a sweet book, but it fell a little short for me.
Emily is grieving the death of her Grandmother, a renowned children’s author. She is also still grieving for her parents, something we can see clearly even though she can’t! The story takes us on a treasure hunt designed to help Emily learn more about her Grandmother.
The characters were all rather weak and waffly and I felt the writing could have been tighter- there seemed a lot of unnecessary prose. I did enjoy learning about the birds though!
It’s a nice enough tale, but it never really got going and I finished it more out of a sense of duty than because I was desperate to solve the mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.
Emily is grieving the death of her Grandmother, a renowned children’s author. She is also still grieving for her parents, something we can see clearly even though she can’t! The story takes us on a treasure hunt designed to help Emily learn more about her Grandmother.
The characters were all rather weak and waffly and I felt the writing could have been tighter- there seemed a lot of unnecessary prose. I did enjoy learning about the birds though!
It’s a nice enough tale, but it never really got going and I finished it more out of a sense of duty than because I was desperate to solve the mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.
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