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Postcards from the Heart
Life is looking up for Saffy. She has a great job, a gorgeous flat in the most desirable part of Dublin and - after six years - it looks like her boyfriend, Greg, is going to propose. Greg (just voted the 9th most eligible man in Ireland) is on a high, too - he's about to swap his part as a heart-throb in an Irish soap for a break in Hollywood. His best mate Conor wakes up every morning with Jess, the most beautiful woman on the planet but, even after seven years and two kids, she won't get married. He spends his days teaching teenagers and his nights writing the book he hopes will change everything, including Jess's mind. But their happy endings are playing hard to get. It seems everyone's keeping secrets - one night stands, heartbreak, grief and loss are all in the mix. It's going to take some tough questions and even tougher answers before anyone's being honest - even with themselves. POSTCARDS FROM THE HEART is a book about four friends in their thirties. It's about love, lust, life, death, balloon rides and missing hamsters. But most of all it's about figuring out how to stop saying 'I don't' and how to start saying 'I do'.
421 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2011
27 people are currently reading
736 people want to read
About the author
Ella Griffin
13 books184 followersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllaGriffinA...
Twitter: @EllaGriffin1
In previous lives, Ella has been Ireland’s Clumsiest Waitress and Shyest Radio DJ, a travel writer and an award-winning advertising copywriter.
She has written 4 novels and is working on a 5th.
Twitter: @EllaGriffin1
In previous lives, Ella has been Ireland’s Clumsiest Waitress and Shyest Radio DJ, a travel writer and an award-winning advertising copywriter.
She has written 4 novels and is working on a 5th.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 12, 2012
Initially, I thought that the entire book will simply relate the struggles and challenges to that one great ending of the four characters. Surprisingly, the book caught so many issues about work, friendship and family life. This is one aspect of Griffin's writing I appreciate. People would always claim that when you found the one, things will suddenly fall to its right place. Apparently, real life works in the opposite. You found the one? You may find yourself in bliss but at the end of the day, you still have other issues in life.
The book carried out a lot of themes from love, friendship, betrayal, unfaithfulness, to which everyone can relate. In one way or another, each of us have experienced the struggle of the characters. Call me a pessimist but another point I love about the story, it's how Griffin made me see that everyone is perfectly imperfect and we are capable of messing up, at least once in our lifetime.
While the entire story relates about struggles, I noticed that the title of the book doesn't seem to fit as I was reading the initial chapters. Who was sending the postcards in the first place? The answer lies on the last chapters, which gave me my much appreciated unexpected endings. For those who have been reading my previous book reviews, you know how much I appreciate authors who are able to craft unexpected endings.
If I will rate Ella Griffin's book, I'll give it 4 out of 5 stars. The book gave me my much needed light read. It never gave me lessons and all those quotable quotes. However, some realizations about work, relationships, family and life are more than enough to make me love Griffin's first novel.
The book carried out a lot of themes from love, friendship, betrayal, unfaithfulness, to which everyone can relate. In one way or another, each of us have experienced the struggle of the characters. Call me a pessimist but another point I love about the story, it's how Griffin made me see that everyone is perfectly imperfect and we are capable of messing up, at least once in our lifetime.
While the entire story relates about struggles, I noticed that the title of the book doesn't seem to fit as I was reading the initial chapters. Who was sending the postcards in the first place? The answer lies on the last chapters, which gave me my much appreciated unexpected endings. For those who have been reading my previous book reviews, you know how much I appreciate authors who are able to craft unexpected endings.
If I will rate Ella Griffin's book, I'll give it 4 out of 5 stars. The book gave me my much needed light read. It never gave me lessons and all those quotable quotes. However, some realizations about work, relationships, family and life are more than enough to make me love Griffin's first novel.
February 22, 2016
Waste of a book, disappointingly. The Conor and Jess storyline had potential but the Greg and Saffy one just made the whole book feel tacky. The characters were unlikeable and the story too unbelievable - shame!
August 29, 2015
I loved it, I loved the characters and I loved the ending. I could have easily read more.
January 25, 2011
As I was coming to the end of 'Postcards from the heart' and really enjoying it I did that thing where you check to see what else the author has written hoping to enjoy another 10 or so books by her and I was devastated to find that this is Ella Griffin's first novel! Well, I mean devastated because now I'll have to wait for her to write another but also shocked because there's no way this reads like a first novel. Firstly, it is not only laugh-out-loud funny it is chuckle-uncontrollably-to-yourself-days-later-because-you-remember-a-line-that-you-laughed-out-loud-at-in-the-first-place. Greg in particular supplies some great one-liners despite or because he's self-obsessed, vain and deluded. The bit where he's dressed as celery has to be one of the funniest scenes ever. But it's also sob-out-loud sad when Griffin writes about Saffy's Mum's cancer and when she discovers something (I won't spoil it) about her Dad. You really get the impression that she knows the Mad Men type advertising world very well indeed and can write knowledgably about it and about the TV/film world. Above all this book moves effortlessly between all the characters keeping everything ticking along and resolving everything brilliantly at the end.
June 30, 2021
I have FINALLY finished this one. Oh dear… about a third of this book could be cut out, it’s irrelevant. I hate giving bad reviews but I really struggled with this book. There was little point to the story of Conor and Jess as that went no where. Such a shame as I’ve really liked some of the author’s other books.
June 19, 2018
I loved The Memory Shop & The Flower Arrangement but gave up with this book. The characters were dire & I couldn't be bothered wasting my time to find out what happened next. Disappointing!
Read
February 4, 2024 Gosto dos livros da Emily Giffin, pelo drama e humor com que escreve, então meio que a associei a Ella Griffin e acabei por ler Postais do Coração. Mas me enganei! Postais do Coração é um livro meio fraco e se ilude quem acha que Marian Keyes está certa quando diz, na capa: "Uma voz nova e fresquinha. Ella Griffin consegue fazer rir e depois chorar ao virar a página." Não ri, nem chorei em momento algum.
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Spoiler
*
Greg é um personagem extremamente imaturo
Saffy se diz loucamente apaixonada por ele, quer ser perdoada por uma traição, mas quando descobre a traição do Greg (contada no dia do casamento) não o perdoa. Que ranço! A bonita quer ser perdoada e não quer perdoar. No final, conhece outro e se separa de vez do Greg.
Conor e Jess parecem ter uma união sólida, mas ela não quer que o marido escreva um livro e fica fazendo mimimi, até que no se acertam.
Os melhores personagens, sem dúvida, são Lizzie e Luke (filhos de Jess e Conor)
O título não tem muito a ver com a história, até pq postais mesmo só aparecem no final e bem pouco. Deveria ser Segredos e mentiras pq é somente isso que acontece nesse livro, quando não estão escondendo coisas, estão mentindo um para o outro .... é assim o livro inteiro!!!!
*
Spoiler
*
Greg é um personagem extremamente imaturo
Saffy se diz loucamente apaixonada por ele, quer ser perdoada por uma traição, mas quando descobre a traição do Greg (contada no dia do casamento) não o perdoa. Que ranço! A bonita quer ser perdoada e não quer perdoar. No final, conhece outro e se separa de vez do Greg.
Conor e Jess parecem ter uma união sólida, mas ela não quer que o marido escreva um livro e fica fazendo mimimi, até que no se acertam.
Os melhores personagens, sem dúvida, são Lizzie e Luke (filhos de Jess e Conor)
O título não tem muito a ver com a história, até pq postais mesmo só aparecem no final e bem pouco. Deveria ser Segredos e mentiras pq é somente isso que acontece nesse livro, quando não estão escondendo coisas, estão mentindo um para o outro .... é assim o livro inteiro!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2013
Eigentlich gibt es kaum etwas, was sich an Saffys Leben ändern sollte. Sie ist erfolgreich in ihrem Job, verdient gut und führt seit nunmehr fünf Jahren eine Beziehung mit dem Serienstar Greg. Aber am Valentinstag wird ihr klar, dass ihr dieses Leben so nicht reicht. Sie will das, was wohl alle Frauen früher oder später wollen: die Frage. Und als Greg ihr trotz eines vielversprechenden Ambientes keinen Heiratsantrag macht, brennen ihr die Sicherungen durch und sie trennt sich von ihm.
Eine Entscheidung, die sie noch so manches Mal anzweifelt und die ihre Freundin Jess mit gemischten Gefühlen aufnimmt. Einerseits konnte sie Greg – der auch ein langjähriger Freund ihres Lebensgefährten Connor ist – noch nie wirklich leiden, andererseits hält die hübsche Blondine aber auch nicht allzu viel von der Ehe. Dies wiederum betrübt Connor sehr, der die Mutter seiner beiden Kinder nur zu gerne heiraten würde.
Aber die Trennung von Greg und Saffy bringt auch für sie einen Stein ins Rollen, der das Leben der Vier gehörig durcheinander wirbelt. Ein Geheimnis jagt das nächste, eine kleine Lüge folgt auf die andere und am Ende droht ein heilloses Chaos, obwohl doch jeder nur nach seinem privaten Glück strebt, das so unerreichbar erscheint …
Ohne große Umschweife steigt man ein in die stressige und erfolgsverwöhnte Welt von Saffy und ihrem langjährigen Lebensgefährten Greg. Doch schnell wird klar, dass nicht alles Gold ist, was da in ihrer Welt glänzt. Was als augenscheinlich seichte Liebesgeschichte beginnt, wird von der Autorin ziemlich schnell um 180° gedreht. Denn von Unbekümmertheit und Liebesgeflüster ist bald schon kaum noch etwas zu sehen, was für viel Abwechslung und eine gehörige Portion Unterhaltung sorgt. Eines ist garantiert: In der ersten Hälfte der Geschichte ist von Langeweile wenig zu spüren, und das merkt man auch als Leser. Hier folgt eine peinliche, brisante, stressige oder einfach nur etwas unglaubliche Situation auf die nächste und fesselt den Leser an jedes einzelne Wort.
Dies ist nicht zuletzt der wunderbar farbenfrohen Mischung an Charakteren geschuldet, die Ella Griffin in ihrem Roman aufeinander treffen lässt. Die etwas zugeknöpfte und erfolgsorientierte Saffy, die sich dennoch nichts mehr wünscht, als dass die vermeintliche Liebe ihres Lebens sie endlich heiratet. Greg, der zwar nicht besonders hoch gewachsen, dessen Ego aber an Größe und Gewicht kaum zu übertreffen ist und der mit seiner fast schon etwas klischeehaft anmutenden Oberflächlichkeit für mehr als nur einen Schmunzler während der Lektüre zu sorgen vermag. Dieses ungleiche Pärchen, dessen Beziehung eigentlich schon von Beginn an zum Scheitern verurteilt war, begleitet der Leser durch die Phasen ihrer Trennung und zeigt so auf menschliche und mitreißende Weise, in welche Höhen und noch viel größeren Tiefen ein Mensch zu stürzen vermag, wenn sich ein festgefahrenes Muster auf einmal ganz unverhofft ändert.
Ich fand es wirklich überaus gelungen, wie die Autorin die mehr oder weniger starke charakterliche Entwicklung der beiden dargestellt hat und vor allem wie sie die beiden Stück für Stück in eine andere Richtung geführt hat.
Sehr gut hat mir auch gefallen, wie sie die Probleme der beiden auf ihre Umgebung bezogen hat. Die Nebenfiguren wurden mehr oder weniger freiwillig in den Strudel des Chaos‘ gezogen und so war es nicht nur ihre Beziehung, die am Ende auf dem Prüfstand stand.
Ein geschickter Schachzug, wie ich sagen muss, vor allem wenn man sieht, wie das befreundete Pärchen Connor und Jess mit ihrer eigenen heraufziehenden Krise umgeht.
Ehrlicherweise muss ich aber sagen, dass mir im direkten Vergleich der beiden ungleichen Paare Jess und Connor mit ihren beiden vorlauten Kindern besser gefallen haben. Sie wirkten irgendwie authentischer, bodenständiger, sodass mir als Leser ihr Schicksal vor allem gegen Ende wichtiger war als das von Saffy und Greg.
Zur Mitte hin kam dann eine für mich völlig unerwartete Wendung, von der ich mir als Leser eigentlich wirklich viel versprochen habe. Und eine ganze Weile sah es dann auch so aus, als könnte man die Spannung kaum noch steigern und man konnte so richtig schön mit den Figuren mitfiebern. Bedauerlicherweise ist es der Autorin dann aber zum Ende hin nicht gelungen, diese Spannung aufrechtzuerhalten und das Buch so zu dem mitreißenden Ende zu bringen, das der Beginn des Buches erhoffen ließ.
Verglichen mit der ersten Hälfte, wirkte das Ende fast ein wenig platt und vorhersehbar. Besonders schade fand ich, dass viele der spannungstragenden Ereignisse, welche die Autorin in Gang gesetzt hat, zu keinem befriedigenden Ende kamen. Mich hätten da einige Dinge zum Ende hin schon noch brennend interessiert, auf die es einfach keine Antwort mehr gab.
Bis auf diese unbeantworteten Fragen und einige etwas langatmige Szenen im hinteren Drittel gibt es aber eigentlich nichts zu beanstanden, sodass ich das Buch auch keinesfalls als schlecht bezeichnen würde. Ein hervorragender Auftakt mit einem mitreißenden Höhepunkt, der leider im Abgang etwas schwächelt. Es ist aber dennoch eine solide Lektüre.
Mit „An und für dich“ liefert uns Ella Griffin einen trotz einiger Schwächen herzerwärmenden Roman über die Höhen und Tiefen in einer Beziehung. Mit viel Witz und Charme versüßen sie und ihre Figuren auch die grauen Herbsttage.
Eine Entscheidung, die sie noch so manches Mal anzweifelt und die ihre Freundin Jess mit gemischten Gefühlen aufnimmt. Einerseits konnte sie Greg – der auch ein langjähriger Freund ihres Lebensgefährten Connor ist – noch nie wirklich leiden, andererseits hält die hübsche Blondine aber auch nicht allzu viel von der Ehe. Dies wiederum betrübt Connor sehr, der die Mutter seiner beiden Kinder nur zu gerne heiraten würde.
Aber die Trennung von Greg und Saffy bringt auch für sie einen Stein ins Rollen, der das Leben der Vier gehörig durcheinander wirbelt. Ein Geheimnis jagt das nächste, eine kleine Lüge folgt auf die andere und am Ende droht ein heilloses Chaos, obwohl doch jeder nur nach seinem privaten Glück strebt, das so unerreichbar erscheint …
Ohne große Umschweife steigt man ein in die stressige und erfolgsverwöhnte Welt von Saffy und ihrem langjährigen Lebensgefährten Greg. Doch schnell wird klar, dass nicht alles Gold ist, was da in ihrer Welt glänzt. Was als augenscheinlich seichte Liebesgeschichte beginnt, wird von der Autorin ziemlich schnell um 180° gedreht. Denn von Unbekümmertheit und Liebesgeflüster ist bald schon kaum noch etwas zu sehen, was für viel Abwechslung und eine gehörige Portion Unterhaltung sorgt. Eines ist garantiert: In der ersten Hälfte der Geschichte ist von Langeweile wenig zu spüren, und das merkt man auch als Leser. Hier folgt eine peinliche, brisante, stressige oder einfach nur etwas unglaubliche Situation auf die nächste und fesselt den Leser an jedes einzelne Wort.
Dies ist nicht zuletzt der wunderbar farbenfrohen Mischung an Charakteren geschuldet, die Ella Griffin in ihrem Roman aufeinander treffen lässt. Die etwas zugeknöpfte und erfolgsorientierte Saffy, die sich dennoch nichts mehr wünscht, als dass die vermeintliche Liebe ihres Lebens sie endlich heiratet. Greg, der zwar nicht besonders hoch gewachsen, dessen Ego aber an Größe und Gewicht kaum zu übertreffen ist und der mit seiner fast schon etwas klischeehaft anmutenden Oberflächlichkeit für mehr als nur einen Schmunzler während der Lektüre zu sorgen vermag. Dieses ungleiche Pärchen, dessen Beziehung eigentlich schon von Beginn an zum Scheitern verurteilt war, begleitet der Leser durch die Phasen ihrer Trennung und zeigt so auf menschliche und mitreißende Weise, in welche Höhen und noch viel größeren Tiefen ein Mensch zu stürzen vermag, wenn sich ein festgefahrenes Muster auf einmal ganz unverhofft ändert.
Ich fand es wirklich überaus gelungen, wie die Autorin die mehr oder weniger starke charakterliche Entwicklung der beiden dargestellt hat und vor allem wie sie die beiden Stück für Stück in eine andere Richtung geführt hat.
Sehr gut hat mir auch gefallen, wie sie die Probleme der beiden auf ihre Umgebung bezogen hat. Die Nebenfiguren wurden mehr oder weniger freiwillig in den Strudel des Chaos‘ gezogen und so war es nicht nur ihre Beziehung, die am Ende auf dem Prüfstand stand.
Ein geschickter Schachzug, wie ich sagen muss, vor allem wenn man sieht, wie das befreundete Pärchen Connor und Jess mit ihrer eigenen heraufziehenden Krise umgeht.
Ehrlicherweise muss ich aber sagen, dass mir im direkten Vergleich der beiden ungleichen Paare Jess und Connor mit ihren beiden vorlauten Kindern besser gefallen haben. Sie wirkten irgendwie authentischer, bodenständiger, sodass mir als Leser ihr Schicksal vor allem gegen Ende wichtiger war als das von Saffy und Greg.
Zur Mitte hin kam dann eine für mich völlig unerwartete Wendung, von der ich mir als Leser eigentlich wirklich viel versprochen habe. Und eine ganze Weile sah es dann auch so aus, als könnte man die Spannung kaum noch steigern und man konnte so richtig schön mit den Figuren mitfiebern. Bedauerlicherweise ist es der Autorin dann aber zum Ende hin nicht gelungen, diese Spannung aufrechtzuerhalten und das Buch so zu dem mitreißenden Ende zu bringen, das der Beginn des Buches erhoffen ließ.
Verglichen mit der ersten Hälfte, wirkte das Ende fast ein wenig platt und vorhersehbar. Besonders schade fand ich, dass viele der spannungstragenden Ereignisse, welche die Autorin in Gang gesetzt hat, zu keinem befriedigenden Ende kamen. Mich hätten da einige Dinge zum Ende hin schon noch brennend interessiert, auf die es einfach keine Antwort mehr gab.
Bis auf diese unbeantworteten Fragen und einige etwas langatmige Szenen im hinteren Drittel gibt es aber eigentlich nichts zu beanstanden, sodass ich das Buch auch keinesfalls als schlecht bezeichnen würde. Ein hervorragender Auftakt mit einem mitreißenden Höhepunkt, der leider im Abgang etwas schwächelt. Es ist aber dennoch eine solide Lektüre.
Mit „An und für dich“ liefert uns Ella Griffin einen trotz einiger Schwächen herzerwärmenden Roman über die Höhen und Tiefen in einer Beziehung. Mit viel Witz und Charme versüßen sie und ihre Figuren auch die grauen Herbsttage.
February 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little rollercoaster which had my emotional a little all over the place. I really liked the characters and could relate to them and understand why they made the decisions they did even when it was something I didn’t necessarily agree with. It was a heartwarming story of love in all its forms.
April 28, 2022
What a fantastic book
January 21, 2011
Saffy finally feels like everything in her life is going right for her. She’s got a great job that she loves, a beautiful expensive apartment, best friends and she is sure her boyfriend Greg Gleeson is going to propose to her at last! Greg, however, seems a bit more focused on his television career and cracking Hollywood than he is settling down anytime soon but he doesn’t want to tell Saffy that. Their best friends Conor and Jess have it pretty good too. Jess doesn’t ever want to get married but is happy in her relationship with Conor and their twins, and despite the fact Conor would love nothing more than to make Jess his wife, he’s happy just being with her and trying to write his book. But there are secrets all around that are threatening to ruin everything the four friends have ever worked for – will the truth make or break these friendships and relationships once and for all?
This is Irish author Ella Griffin’s debut novel, and a very good one it is too! I was impressed when I received the book because there on the front cover was a quote from Marian Keyes saying what a good author Griffin is, so that’s a pretty good recommendation to go by, especially for a debut author! I have to say I really don’t like the cover – it is quite bland and dull, and certainly doesn’t stand out against some of the other books I have received lately which is a shame, but as the age old adage goes… never judge a book by its cover and I am glad I didn’t on this case. Inside is a really good debut novel and it certainly makes me keen to read more from Griffin, a new promising voice in Irish chick-lit!
The book begins introducing us to Saffy and Greg, a couple who on the surface look very much in love, and like the perfect couple. Greg is a TV star and very famous and good-looking, and Saffy is happy to sit in the background, except when the female attention towards her boyfriend gets too much for her. Straight away, I took a dislike to Greg – he seemed too cocky and dismissive of Saffy, and I could see that he was going to a real problem for Saffy and her needs. He was arroagant, cocky and certainly the male character we are supposed to hate in the book, and Griffin has written him well, although perhaps a bit of a cliché. Saffy on the hand I really liked – she was cool, calm and collected despite what Greg does to her, but I did want to give her a bit of a shake at times as she did seem a bit too oblivious to Greg’s negative sides too much.
The other main characters are Conor and Jess, who also happen to be Saffy and Greg’s best friends. Their story is very much the opposite of Greg and Saffy, they aren’t rich, they work hard to get what they can for their young twins and seem very happy. I could relate much more to this couple than I ever could Greg and Saffy, and I am glad that Griffin chose to put some more down-to-earth characters into the book as well. I felt really sorry for Jess and Conor as things started to go wrong between them, and really wanted them to work at it, they are clearly very much in love but as usual a breakdown in communications is where things start to go wrong for them. Conor in particular was very sweet and I really liked him a lot, and while he did a few wrong things, I couldn’t help but think his heart is in the right place!
The book is told in the third person and it worked really well for this book because of the amount of main characters, I was easily able to follow the four different story lines and also the more minor characters with ease too. As well as the issue of love and relationships which is the main theme of the book, Griffin also tackles some more serious issues within as well. Saffy’s mother suffers a serious illness within, and Griffin uses this as a tool to not only develop this storyline in a touching and sincere way, it also gives her a chance to have a great storyline develop between Saffy and her mother Jill, and I thought this was very touching, despite its twists and turns along the way. This story easily sits in alongside the main plot, and works really well for me. I also have to mention the storyline with Joe and Liam, it was very well handled by the author again and I was really impressed how she has managed to squeeze so many serious topics into one book!
Overall, I was very impressed with this debut novel. It has a real warmth about it that made it very readable and despite the fact there is constantly a lot going on, I found it easy to follow and all the characters (bar Greg!) were very likeable and believable. I really felt for Saffy as she didn’t have an easy time of it throughout the book but Griffin writes her in such a way that she is a strong character and holds the book together very well. The writing style was excellent and made for a pleasant reading experience, and I was especially taken with how sensitively Griffin tackles the more serious issues within the book. I would definitely recommend this excellent debut novel, and look forward to reading more from Ella Griffin in the future.
This is Irish author Ella Griffin’s debut novel, and a very good one it is too! I was impressed when I received the book because there on the front cover was a quote from Marian Keyes saying what a good author Griffin is, so that’s a pretty good recommendation to go by, especially for a debut author! I have to say I really don’t like the cover – it is quite bland and dull, and certainly doesn’t stand out against some of the other books I have received lately which is a shame, but as the age old adage goes… never judge a book by its cover and I am glad I didn’t on this case. Inside is a really good debut novel and it certainly makes me keen to read more from Griffin, a new promising voice in Irish chick-lit!
The book begins introducing us to Saffy and Greg, a couple who on the surface look very much in love, and like the perfect couple. Greg is a TV star and very famous and good-looking, and Saffy is happy to sit in the background, except when the female attention towards her boyfriend gets too much for her. Straight away, I took a dislike to Greg – he seemed too cocky and dismissive of Saffy, and I could see that he was going to a real problem for Saffy and her needs. He was arroagant, cocky and certainly the male character we are supposed to hate in the book, and Griffin has written him well, although perhaps a bit of a cliché. Saffy on the hand I really liked – she was cool, calm and collected despite what Greg does to her, but I did want to give her a bit of a shake at times as she did seem a bit too oblivious to Greg’s negative sides too much.
The other main characters are Conor and Jess, who also happen to be Saffy and Greg’s best friends. Their story is very much the opposite of Greg and Saffy, they aren’t rich, they work hard to get what they can for their young twins and seem very happy. I could relate much more to this couple than I ever could Greg and Saffy, and I am glad that Griffin chose to put some more down-to-earth characters into the book as well. I felt really sorry for Jess and Conor as things started to go wrong between them, and really wanted them to work at it, they are clearly very much in love but as usual a breakdown in communications is where things start to go wrong for them. Conor in particular was very sweet and I really liked him a lot, and while he did a few wrong things, I couldn’t help but think his heart is in the right place!
The book is told in the third person and it worked really well for this book because of the amount of main characters, I was easily able to follow the four different story lines and also the more minor characters with ease too. As well as the issue of love and relationships which is the main theme of the book, Griffin also tackles some more serious issues within as well. Saffy’s mother suffers a serious illness within, and Griffin uses this as a tool to not only develop this storyline in a touching and sincere way, it also gives her a chance to have a great storyline develop between Saffy and her mother Jill, and I thought this was very touching, despite its twists and turns along the way. This story easily sits in alongside the main plot, and works really well for me. I also have to mention the storyline with Joe and Liam, it was very well handled by the author again and I was really impressed how she has managed to squeeze so many serious topics into one book!
Overall, I was very impressed with this debut novel. It has a real warmth about it that made it very readable and despite the fact there is constantly a lot going on, I found it easy to follow and all the characters (bar Greg!) were very likeable and believable. I really felt for Saffy as she didn’t have an easy time of it throughout the book but Griffin writes her in such a way that she is a strong character and holds the book together very well. The writing style was excellent and made for a pleasant reading experience, and I was especially taken with how sensitively Griffin tackles the more serious issues within the book. I would definitely recommend this excellent debut novel, and look forward to reading more from Ella Griffin in the future.
January 12, 2017
Cóż mogę napisać o tak słabej książce? "Pocztówki prosto z serca" po prostu są i tyle.
Książkę od samego początku czyta się bardzo ciężko. Poznajemy Saffy, która wychowywała się bez ojca za którym cały czas tęskni. Na dodatek ma problemy ze swoją matką, która ubiera się jak nastolatka i próbuje tak kierować swoją samodzielną córką by ta odhaczyła z listy wszystkie najważniejsze punkty, ale problem jest jeden: Saffy dalej jest panną, a to powoduje, że na starość może zostać sama. Greg jej narzeczony jest wiecznym dzieckiem. Sądzi, że podbije Hollywood. Jedna chwila zazdrości o kogoś lepszego przez młodego, irlandzkiego psuje idealne życie młodej pary. Na dodatek Greg nie zamierza wcale prosić Saffy o rękę. Tu powstaje konflikt interesów, który prowadzi do kryzysu, a także do niesamowitych zwrotów w życiu bohaterów. Nawet nie wiecie jak bardzo denerwująca i zapatrzoną w siebie postacią jest Greg. Gdyby istniała tylko możliwość zabicia go przez czytelnika ¾ czytających zrobiłoby to z największą rozkoszą. Oczywiście Saffy nie jest również bez winy, bo jest po prostu straszną hipokrytką, która nie widzi kompletnie swojej winy w tym, że jej życie uczuciowe w pewnym momencie zaczyna przypominać klęskę.
Conor, który zrobił kursy nauczycielskie tylko po to by zadowolić swoich rodziców marzy o tym by napisać książkę. Jego partnerka Jess jest kobietą, która po prostu stworzyła im miłe gniazdo rodzinne. Na dodatek nie uznaje instytucji małżeństwa i notorycznie odmawia powiedzenia tego jednego „tak”. Nie przekonuje jej nawet posiadania dwójki dzieci. Jednak nie wszystko jest idealne tak jak się może wydawać. Praca Connora nad książką zdecydowanie burzy idealny ład rodziny. Jess z góry po prostu założyła, ze jej partner podobnie jak ona po urodzeniu dzieci zrezygnuje ze swoich marzeń i będzie wiódł nudne życie nauczyciela języka. Cóż Conor ma jednak zupełnie inne plany, a na dodatek jego marzenia są w stanie się spełnić, co powoduje, że nad ich związkiem zaczynają się zbierać ciemne chmury...
Życie głównych bohaterów nagle zmienia swój kierunek i tracą nad nim kontrolę. Stają nad krawędzią i odpowiadają sobie na jedno zasadnicze pytanie: jak ma wyglądać ich życie.
Mimo akcji pełnej zawirowań książka nie wciąga od początku, jest ciężka jak cegła. Dopiero, gdy przechodzimy do połowy drugiej części książki wszystko zaczyna nabierać tempa, a czytelnik zastanawia się jak dalej potoczą się losy Saffy, Grega, Conora i Jess oraz ich dalszych i bliższych krewnych oraz znajomych.
Z okładki książki bije zapewnienie, że książka rozbawi mnie do łez – nie uroniłam nawet najmniejszej łzy oraz, że wzruszy do łez – musiałam najwidoczniej ryczeć jak bóbr suchymi łzami, bo również żadna mokra kropla nie wypłynęła z mojego oka. Postacie są irytujące i popadają ze skrajności w skrajność. Książkę czyta się ciężko i opornie. Nie ma w sobie nic z lekkości romansu, którego się spodziewałam i też nie ma w sobie za wiele z obyczajówki, bo wiele rzeczy, które dzieją się w książce są jak dla mnie mało prawdopodobne. Powątpiewam czy autorka ma jakikolwiek talent do pisania, bo w tej książce go z pewnością nie ukazała, a na dodatek stworzyła tak wielki chaos, który był pozbawiony, chociaż grama logicznego myślenia.
Dostaje dwójkę za poruszenie tematu raka, a także problemów dziecka wychowanego tylko przez jednego rodzica. Za nic więcej. Dziękuję i nigdy więcej.
"Gdzieś istnieje twoja druga połówka i jeśli ją znajdziesz, możesz z tym walczyć, ale na pewno nie wygrasz." ~ Ella Griffin, Pocztówki prosto z serca, Warszawa 2013, s. 365.
Książkę od samego początku czyta się bardzo ciężko. Poznajemy Saffy, która wychowywała się bez ojca za którym cały czas tęskni. Na dodatek ma problemy ze swoją matką, która ubiera się jak nastolatka i próbuje tak kierować swoją samodzielną córką by ta odhaczyła z listy wszystkie najważniejsze punkty, ale problem jest jeden: Saffy dalej jest panną, a to powoduje, że na starość może zostać sama. Greg jej narzeczony jest wiecznym dzieckiem. Sądzi, że podbije Hollywood. Jedna chwila zazdrości o kogoś lepszego przez młodego, irlandzkiego psuje idealne życie młodej pary. Na dodatek Greg nie zamierza wcale prosić Saffy o rękę. Tu powstaje konflikt interesów, który prowadzi do kryzysu, a także do niesamowitych zwrotów w życiu bohaterów. Nawet nie wiecie jak bardzo denerwująca i zapatrzoną w siebie postacią jest Greg. Gdyby istniała tylko możliwość zabicia go przez czytelnika ¾ czytających zrobiłoby to z największą rozkoszą. Oczywiście Saffy nie jest również bez winy, bo jest po prostu straszną hipokrytką, która nie widzi kompletnie swojej winy w tym, że jej życie uczuciowe w pewnym momencie zaczyna przypominać klęskę.
Conor, który zrobił kursy nauczycielskie tylko po to by zadowolić swoich rodziców marzy o tym by napisać książkę. Jego partnerka Jess jest kobietą, która po prostu stworzyła im miłe gniazdo rodzinne. Na dodatek nie uznaje instytucji małżeństwa i notorycznie odmawia powiedzenia tego jednego „tak”. Nie przekonuje jej nawet posiadania dwójki dzieci. Jednak nie wszystko jest idealne tak jak się może wydawać. Praca Connora nad książką zdecydowanie burzy idealny ład rodziny. Jess z góry po prostu założyła, ze jej partner podobnie jak ona po urodzeniu dzieci zrezygnuje ze swoich marzeń i będzie wiódł nudne życie nauczyciela języka. Cóż Conor ma jednak zupełnie inne plany, a na dodatek jego marzenia są w stanie się spełnić, co powoduje, że nad ich związkiem zaczynają się zbierać ciemne chmury...
Życie głównych bohaterów nagle zmienia swój kierunek i tracą nad nim kontrolę. Stają nad krawędzią i odpowiadają sobie na jedno zasadnicze pytanie: jak ma wyglądać ich życie.
Mimo akcji pełnej zawirowań książka nie wciąga od początku, jest ciężka jak cegła. Dopiero, gdy przechodzimy do połowy drugiej części książki wszystko zaczyna nabierać tempa, a czytelnik zastanawia się jak dalej potoczą się losy Saffy, Grega, Conora i Jess oraz ich dalszych i bliższych krewnych oraz znajomych.
Z okładki książki bije zapewnienie, że książka rozbawi mnie do łez – nie uroniłam nawet najmniejszej łzy oraz, że wzruszy do łez – musiałam najwidoczniej ryczeć jak bóbr suchymi łzami, bo również żadna mokra kropla nie wypłynęła z mojego oka. Postacie są irytujące i popadają ze skrajności w skrajność. Książkę czyta się ciężko i opornie. Nie ma w sobie nic z lekkości romansu, którego się spodziewałam i też nie ma w sobie za wiele z obyczajówki, bo wiele rzeczy, które dzieją się w książce są jak dla mnie mało prawdopodobne. Powątpiewam czy autorka ma jakikolwiek talent do pisania, bo w tej książce go z pewnością nie ukazała, a na dodatek stworzyła tak wielki chaos, który był pozbawiony, chociaż grama logicznego myślenia.
Dostaje dwójkę za poruszenie tematu raka, a także problemów dziecka wychowanego tylko przez jednego rodzica. Za nic więcej. Dziękuję i nigdy więcej.
"Gdzieś istnieje twoja druga połówka i jeśli ją znajdziesz, możesz z tym walczyć, ale na pewno nie wygrasz." ~ Ella Griffin, Pocztówki prosto z serca, Warszawa 2013, s. 365.
January 6, 2011
Oh god. Not good. The extra star is because Ella Griffin herself, is not a bad writer. But the characters, and the plot, annoyed the living shite out of me. All the female characters are bitches with serious issues about marriage and long-term relationships, and the men are spineless wimps who can't seem to just tell the truth. I really did not enjoy this, and it has taught me a lesson, do not read chick lit. Don't bother. It's really not worth it.
Again, re-iterating that Griffin is an okay writer, but it'd be better if she committed herself to something other than this mushy, stereotypical shit. It's books like these that make women not seem as intellectual as men.
Sadbh (Saffy) Martin is a woman in her early thirties, who has been dating pathetic, up-himself actor Greg Gleeson for the past 6 years. When will he propose? Oh dear! One night she gets drunk and asks him herself, and he declines, albeit politely. Which sets her (and him..kind of) on a journey of self-discovery, full of ridiculous plot-holes and weak, watery characters. I actually found the lesser characters better and more interesting, such as Saffy's co-workers at Komodo. Her best friend Jess is a bit of a shit, and Jess's partner Conor takes too much shit.
ARGH. This book frustrated me so much! Not recommended.
Again, re-iterating that Griffin is an okay writer, but it'd be better if she committed herself to something other than this mushy, stereotypical shit. It's books like these that make women not seem as intellectual as men.
Sadbh (Saffy) Martin is a woman in her early thirties, who has been dating pathetic, up-himself actor Greg Gleeson for the past 6 years. When will he propose? Oh dear! One night she gets drunk and asks him herself, and he declines, albeit politely. Which sets her (and him..kind of) on a journey of self-discovery, full of ridiculous plot-holes and weak, watery characters. I actually found the lesser characters better and more interesting, such as Saffy's co-workers at Komodo. Her best friend Jess is a bit of a shit, and Jess's partner Conor takes too much shit.
ARGH. This book frustrated me so much! Not recommended.
January 6, 2011
Postcards From The Heart is the debut novel from Irish author Ella Griffin. The novel is warm, funny, engaging and full of emotion and places Ella Griffin well and truly up there with some of the best modern female Irish authors. Anyone who enjoys Marian Keyes, Cathy Kelly or Patricia Scanlan is going to really enjoy this.
If this were a film, it would be a rom-com, definitely funny and most definitely full of romance, but not slushy or overly sweet - it's down to earth and Griffin's characters are likeable and well drawn. The story revolves around two couples - best friends for years but living very different lifestyles. Saffy and Gregg are rich, successful and famous whilst Conor and Jess are poor but very happy. It's about falling in love, hanging on to love, losing love and then finding it again.
There are some complex relationships, not least between Saffy and her mother, and at times the story is very emotional, yet even when dealing with the heavy issues, the touch of humour is always there in the background. Jess and Conor's twin children are amazing characters with both of them having some fabulous one-liners.
I think Ella Griffin has a real hit with this novel and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
If this were a film, it would be a rom-com, definitely funny and most definitely full of romance, but not slushy or overly sweet - it's down to earth and Griffin's characters are likeable and well drawn. The story revolves around two couples - best friends for years but living very different lifestyles. Saffy and Gregg are rich, successful and famous whilst Conor and Jess are poor but very happy. It's about falling in love, hanging on to love, losing love and then finding it again.
There are some complex relationships, not least between Saffy and her mother, and at times the story is very emotional, yet even when dealing with the heavy issues, the touch of humour is always there in the background. Jess and Conor's twin children are amazing characters with both of them having some fabulous one-liners.
I think Ella Griffin has a real hit with this novel and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
February 11, 2012
There are 3 stories unfolding in this delightful read.
Saffy and Greg are the couple about town. He is the soap hunk, with a funny problem with sayings, and she has a successful career in advertising. The novel begins on Valentine's night, when Saffy feels sure Greg is about to propose. Disaster strikes at the restaurant.
Conor and Jess are comfortable with each other, having lived together for 7 years and having twins, Lizzie and Luke. Jess is quite happy with the ways things are....or is she?
Saffy has a strained relationship with her mother and the reason for this is deep-rooted and is revealed in the novel. Circumstances are about to change this relationship.
The Postcards from the Heart actually came from a source that I had not guessed. I would like to have seen more of this part of the story earlier in the novel, but it was a very moving part of the novel.
Ella Griffin has written a comman tale of relationships but given it more of a rollercoaster ride. Her comic timing at some of the most poignant moments was fabulous. I would just be feeling emotional and a laugh would come along.
4 out of 5 for me!
review copy
January 21, 2011
I'm always a little apprehensive when I try a chick lit novel by a new author, so many of them are badly written, filled with worn out cliches and unfunny asides and the authors just seems to be trying too hard. So when I started 'Postcards from the Heart' I was delighted to discover that this would not be the case with this book. Ella Griffin writes with the confidence of an established author and bring a deft and creative voice to this genre. Her characters are a delight, both those you love and those you hate, her plotting is nicely paced and keeps you guessing and there is a real sense of warmth to the writing that makes it infinitely readable, you just want to put off the housework and keep on reading. I finished the book with a tear in my eye and a great desire to see what Ms Griffin would come up with next. Hooray for a great new author!
June 18, 2012
I was devastated when I finished "Postcards from the Heart" because it was so beautifully written, a great story with numerous plots that all interweave seamlessly drawing you into each character's life. I couldn't put this book down. Ella Griffin is one of those rare storytellers that uses language so effortlessly, so as you're reading you get right inside each character - feeling their emotions as well as experiencing the event. There are so many wonderful scenes - my top two favourites are the champagne restaurant scene early on in the book, and the old lady in the hospital elevator at the end. In between both these scenes it's an incredible journey of hilarity and sadness - a real page turner. This is one of very few novels that made a big impact on me. It's going to be picked up and made into a movie for sure.
July 26, 2012
For me personally the book came kind of at the right time because my mum had removed her breast too nearly at the exact time when i read about that in the book. That really depressed me, it was sad & the part about changing the drainage was too detailed for my taste. But the good thing was that I could read that book wherever I was, on the train, the bus, it was easy written & not something where you have to concentrate a lot. I liked the characters & what happened between them but for me the Becky- person was not neccessary. I hated her & Conor in that part.
Additionally, I would recommend the book to my best friend (already did after finishing it that night) & think it was a great first novel by Ella Griffin!
Additionally, I would recommend the book to my best friend (already did after finishing it that night) & think it was a great first novel by Ella Griffin!
March 1, 2012
This novel i recently recived from a book blog (DizzyC'slittlebookblog.blogspot.com) and i am so greatful, as typically it is not something that i would usually pick off a shelf. It however completely and utterly suprised me and i found it to be most enjoyable. At times it made me laugh and at times i was literally in tears, it was so increadibly emotive and beautifully written. It is very detailed and descriptive and a truely beautiful love story.
For the avid reader and book lover, regardless of whatever particular genre you enjoy i would highly recommend this novel as it appeals to all readers and a wide audience. Take a look (you will not be disapointed!). x
For the avid reader and book lover, regardless of whatever particular genre you enjoy i would highly recommend this novel as it appeals to all readers and a wide audience. Take a look (you will not be disapointed!). x
May 29, 2011
Positives:
I like that no-one is perfect in this book. Everyone comes with their own baggage, everyone messes up, and there are consequences. Well written, believable dialogue and scenes. Lots of plot twists, so keeps you interested.
Negatives:
The number of plot twists are unbelievable. The main characters are all good looking, thin and young. Lots of the peripheral characters are bullies. Who would keep working at Komodo?
Overall: Readable.
p.s. Two of the character names in the main review are incorrect.
I like that no-one is perfect in this book. Everyone comes with their own baggage, everyone messes up, and there are consequences. Well written, believable dialogue and scenes. Lots of plot twists, so keeps you interested.
Negatives:
The number of plot twists are unbelievable. The main characters are all good looking, thin and young. Lots of the peripheral characters are bullies. Who would keep working at Komodo?
Overall: Readable.
p.s. Two of the character names in the main review are incorrect.
March 22, 2011
Really enjoyed this one - well written chick lit that had just the right balace of crisis, tragedy and humour with some very well drawn characters. Sadly this was a really bad manuscript proof that distracted me at times - couldn't understand why Conor + Jess signed their texts "B" and "D" and at one point I got confused between the mother's cancer consultant and the missing hamster. Lovely book though - looking forward to her next, Marian Keyes watch your back!
April 5, 2012
I'd read a few good reviews of this, so I bought it to see what it was like for myself. I must admit, I found it really really hard to get into this at first. I'm not really sure why, maybe the pace was a bit slow, maybe I had a bit of difficulty getting the hang of who people were.. but I did struggle with it for a bit. I am really pleased I stuck with it though - once I managed to get in it, I flew through it!
I will definitely be reading Ella Griffin's book.
I will definitely be reading Ella Griffin's book.
October 23, 2011
This book is simply brilliant, hilarious accounts of what it must be like to date someone who thinks they should be famous. I laughed all the way through the antics of the four friends/lovers. Will be straight on another of Ella’s books as i love the Irish sense of humour and think Ella has it in bucket loads.
March 28, 2012
OK, so this book might not be a Literature gem, and maybe it does have some cliché stereotypes, and it might even drag a little bit half-way through, but as a romantic comedy it's brilliant.
I laughed so hard my other half thought I was going crazy. It's entertaining, easy to read, light-hearted and fun. Perfect for as holiday read or for a little bit of escapism. You can't never laugh enough!
I laughed so hard my other half thought I was going crazy. It's entertaining, easy to read, light-hearted and fun. Perfect for as holiday read or for a little bit of escapism. You can't never laugh enough!
March 19, 2021
This is the first time I am reading a book by Ella Griffin. I bought this book because I like the title and she is an Irish author. I think this is her first book. It's a nice story... easy flowing short chapters, quite an interesting storyline. But overall this book is not captivating enough. Some characters are quite lame and boring.
March 15, 2011
Really loved this!! Not sure why, but very witty, good story (if a bit predictable) - quite Marion Keyes in style. Found the characters exasperating - part of their charm, I suppose!!
March 6, 2011
It took me a while to get into this book, this ais a first book, by Ella Griffin, I couldn't put it down, I hope it won't be the last. A brilliant book.
February 15, 2012
A beautiful, romantic read set in contemporary Dublin. Full of fun and laughter - and something really different here - a beautifully crafted, well written yet highly entertaining holiday read.
November 2, 2020
Ella Griffin has such a gift. I fell in love with her writing the first time I read one of her novels, and so far I have never been disappointed. Her characters are so real and beautifully flawed, and her words have never ceased to make me shed tears at least a time or two. Being able to tap into the emotions and make one empathize with the characters is always the hallmark of a highly rated book for me.
August 24, 2017
DNF (40%)
I'm just not interested in any of these unlikeable characters and what happens to them. They all annoy me, even more so because they tend make stupid decisions. And I'll never understand why marriage is considered necessary for a relationship to be valid.
I'm not very keen on the writing either. Funny in places but mostly too detailed and slow.
I'm just not interested in any of these unlikeable characters and what happens to them. They all annoy me, even more so because they tend make stupid decisions. And I'll never understand why marriage is considered necessary for a relationship to be valid.
I'm not very keen on the writing either. Funny in places but mostly too detailed and slow.
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