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A Cat, a Hat and a Piece of String
A second short story collection from Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat and Peaches for Monsieur le Cure .
'Stories are like Russian dolls; open them up, and in each one you'll find another story.'
Conjured from a wickedly imaginative pen, here is a new collection of short stories that showcases Joanne Harris's exceptional storytelling art. Sensuous, wicked, mischievous, uproarious and wry, here are tales that combine the everyday with the unexpected; wild fantasy with bittersweet reality.
From the house where it is Christmas all year round, to a ghost who lives on a Twitter timeline; from the Congo where a young girl braves the raging rapids to earn a crust of bread, to Norse gods battling for survival in Manhattan; and a newborn baby created with sugar, spice and lashings of cake, these stories will ensnare and delight you with their variety and inventiveness.
'Stories are like Russian dolls; open them up, and in each one you'll find another story.'
Conjured from a wickedly imaginative pen, here is a new collection of short stories that showcases Joanne Harris's exceptional storytelling art. Sensuous, wicked, mischievous, uproarious and wry, here are tales that combine the everyday with the unexpected; wild fantasy with bittersweet reality.
From the house where it is Christmas all year round, to a ghost who lives on a Twitter timeline; from the Congo where a young girl braves the raging rapids to earn a crust of bread, to Norse gods battling for survival in Manhattan; and a newborn baby created with sugar, spice and lashings of cake, these stories will ensnare and delight you with their variety and inventiveness.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published November 8, 2012
98 people are currently reading
1,751 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Harris
128books6,120followersJoanne Harris is also known as Joanne M. Harris
Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.
Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television.
In 2000, her 1999 novel CHOCOLAT was adapted to the screen, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. She is an honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE by the Queen.
Her hobbies are listed in Who's Who as 'mooching, lounging, strutting, strumming, priest-baiting and quiet subversion'. She also spends too much time on Twitter; plays flute and bass guitar in a band first formed when she was 16; and works from a shed in her garden at her home in Yorkshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
December 19, 2012
I couldn't quite resist when I saw this in Waterstones -- particularly as I'd been staring at it throughout a frankly embarrassing asthma attack (let it be known that human goodness is not just a myth: several random passers-by collected around me and helped me administer my inhaler, and someone fetched a Waterstones employee to fetch a glass of water from the staff room -- it all rather belied the cynical stuff about how people always assume someone else is going to help you; or maybe it just proves that people who shop for books are excellent people?). I used to undervalue Joanne Harris a lot by virtue of the fact that I'd seen plenty of people around reading her books. Bah, I thought, with that special brand of snobbery: bestsellers. And Johnny Depp played one of her characters in a film adaptation...? Oh, my.
So when I did read one of her books, I smuggled it in past myself. And then I read it in an evening, glorying in her prose and sounding out each word. And then I read another of her books, and another -- and then it hit me that she's one of my favourite authors, in a special way that guarantees I will buy each of her books as they come out without fluttering excitement, but with a smile of familiarity, feeling the promise of comfort (even when the stories themselves are discomforting -- lookin' at you, blueeyedboy, Gentlemen & Players).
So anyway, yes, I bought this book -- and then saved it, for when I needed it. It turned out to be in the middle of a case of the blahs, when my dissertation wasn't shifting an inch and my girlfriend wasn't online, and... so on. It didn't wave a magic wand and cure me, that's for sure, but it got me interested, and curious, and . I found some of the stories a little predictable, but everywhere I found what I read Joanne Harris for: that voice, that prose, that imagery, that sure touch. I think my favourite stories were 'Cookie' and 'Dee Eye Why', but I enjoyed all of them.
I can't promise you'll have the same experience, of course. You might read one of Joanne Harris' books and come away feeling entirely different to me in every respect. But don't sniff and turn your nose up without trying, for goodness sake.
So when I did read one of her books, I smuggled it in past myself. And then I read it in an evening, glorying in her prose and sounding out each word. And then I read another of her books, and another -- and then it hit me that she's one of my favourite authors, in a special way that guarantees I will buy each of her books as they come out without fluttering excitement, but with a smile of familiarity, feeling the promise of comfort (even when the stories themselves are discomforting -- lookin' at you, blueeyedboy, Gentlemen & Players).
So anyway, yes, I bought this book -- and then saved it, for when I needed it. It turned out to be in the middle of a case of the blahs, when my dissertation wasn't shifting an inch and my girlfriend wasn't online, and... so on. It didn't wave a magic wand and cure me, that's for sure, but it got me interested, and curious, and . I found some of the stories a little predictable, but everywhere I found what I read Joanne Harris for: that voice, that prose, that imagery, that sure touch. I think my favourite stories were 'Cookie' and 'Dee Eye Why', but I enjoyed all of them.
I can't promise you'll have the same experience, of course. You might read one of Joanne Harris' books and come away feeling entirely different to me in every respect. But don't sniff and turn your nose up without trying, for goodness sake.
June 22, 2018
A really enjoyable collection of short stories from one of my favourite authors. The variety is excellent. She takes us to Africa twice, to the USA, to a haunted house, twice to a retirement home to visit residents Faith and Hope, two mischievous old ladies whose story combines humour and pathos. My favourite was about Norse Gods battling over the weather in Manhattan. I’m not a huge short story fan but this collection kept me entertained at the hairdressers and in hospital, two places where it’s hard to concentrate on anything that needs it.
April 16, 2014
A cat, a Hat and a Piece of String is Joanne Harris's second collection of tales. Children who ride rapids, internet ghosts, Norse gods walkings around in Manhattan, a new-born girl made of candy, a very special café in an old railway station, a house where it's Christmas all year round. These are some examples of what can be read in this book.
To be honest, I was expecting something a little better. Not that these stories are horrible, it's just that weren't that special. In fact, I couldn't feel moved by any of it. And there were times when I didn't really feel like go back to reading this book.
I think Jigs & Reels was much better.
To be honest, I was expecting something a little better. Not that these stories are horrible, it's just that weren't that special. In fact, I couldn't feel moved by any of it. And there were times when I didn't really feel like go back to reading this book.
I think Jigs & Reels was much better.
February 1, 2018
Este é um livro de contos, de 16 contos mais precisamente, e como é normal gostei mais de uns do que de outros, houve 5 deles que gostei mesmo muito. Um desses 5 deixou-me a reflectir durante um bom tempo porque o desfecho foi obscuro. Estes contos têm um quê de sabedoria, de magia e de humor. Posso dizer que no somatório deles todos o saldo foi francamente positivo!
November 22, 2020
Este livro de contos encheu-me as medidas! Lembrou-me bastante de alguns contos da Patrícia Highsmith, mas também me agradaram pela ternura com que alguns deles são escritos (ou que eu apreendo). Os meus preferidos são os das senhoras idosas, Hope e Faith, que lá tentam lidar com a sua vida num lar de idosos onde nem sempre as coisas correm pelo melhor... Os contos referentes a África são brutais, pela realidade que nos é estranha e um deles seria o ideal para enfiar pelos olhos adentro de alguns alúnos energúmenos que vejo quase todos os dias... valorização da aprendizagem, da escola, da vida, que nos parece tão distante, devido à ideia de termos tudo, ou quase, como garantido. Muito, muito bom! Também gostei do conto sobre a velha casa abandonada restaurada por um descontente e perdido na sua vida. O conto sobre a rádio fantasma é delicioso! O único defeito que encontro nestes contos é lerem-se muito depressa...
March 12, 2018
A While in Disneyland
Ammetto di aver apprezzato alcuni romanzi di Joanne Harris, anni fa. Questa raccolta di racconti mi pone di fronte a due alternative: o i miei gusti sono cambiati radicalmente, oppure l'Autrice ha fatto un passo falso non indifferente. Condizioni che, in effetti, potrebbero essere entrambe vere.
Dietro un titolo curioso (va riconosciuto) si nascondono 16 racconti equamente divisi tra lo zuccheroso tendente all'iperglicemico, il buonismo politicamente corretto e socialmente impegnato, il mitologico à la vorrei essere Neil Gaiman ma non posso, un paio di incursioni nei territori delle nuove tecnologie. Si salva pochissimo, a mio avviso: i tentativi di emulare il Gaiman di American Gods hanno una scintilla, ma il fuoco non divampa comunque; l'idea di rileggere Il fantasma dell'Opera non è malvagia, ma in quel campo è meglio virare sul geniale musical Phantom of the Paradise di Brian de Palma. Musa, in fin dei conti, si salva in virtù della sua felinità (ma quel discreto e omonimo film con Sharon Stone e Andie MacDowell...). Il fondo, per me, lo si tocca con i racconti che vorrebbero trattare temi rilevanti: i due dedicati all'infanzia in Africa e i due che hanno per protagoniste due arzille vecchiette c/o casa di riposo.
Il voto è più che altro una reazione allergica, non me ne vogliano gli estimatori.
Let it go...
Ammetto di aver apprezzato alcuni romanzi di Joanne Harris, anni fa. Questa raccolta di racconti mi pone di fronte a due alternative: o i miei gusti sono cambiati radicalmente, oppure l'Autrice ha fatto un passo falso non indifferente. Condizioni che, in effetti, potrebbero essere entrambe vere.
Dietro un titolo curioso (va riconosciuto) si nascondono 16 racconti equamente divisi tra lo zuccheroso tendente all'iperglicemico, il buonismo politicamente corretto e socialmente impegnato, il mitologico à la vorrei essere Neil Gaiman ma non posso, un paio di incursioni nei territori delle nuove tecnologie. Si salva pochissimo, a mio avviso: i tentativi di emulare il Gaiman di American Gods hanno una scintilla, ma il fuoco non divampa comunque; l'idea di rileggere Il fantasma dell'Opera non è malvagia, ma in quel campo è meglio virare sul geniale musical Phantom of the Paradise di Brian de Palma. Musa, in fin dei conti, si salva in virtù della sua felinità (ma quel discreto e omonimo film con Sharon Stone e Andie MacDowell...). Il fondo, per me, lo si tocca con i racconti che vorrebbero trattare temi rilevanti: i due dedicati all'infanzia in Africa e i due che hanno per protagoniste due arzille vecchiette c/o casa di riposo.
Il voto è più che altro una reazione allergica, non me ne vogliano gli estimatori.
Let it go...
May 3, 2020
7,5 de 10*
Sempre que é editado um novo livro de Joanne Harris, compro-o sem sequer ler a sinopse. Porque adoro a sua escrita única, a sua originalidade na forma de contar uma história. Quando percebi que se tratava de um livro de contos, acabou por ficar na prateleira à espera de ser lido, porque tenho uma certa renitência em ler contos... A propósito do projecto da Mafalda, Abril Contos Mil, achei que era a altura ideal para lhe pegar. A verdade é que nem pela mão desta querida autora, consigo ficar encantada com contos... É certo que alguns são mais interessantes que outros, mas nenhum deles me deixou arrebatada.
Comentário completo em:
Sempre que é editado um novo livro de Joanne Harris, compro-o sem sequer ler a sinopse. Porque adoro a sua escrita única, a sua originalidade na forma de contar uma história. Quando percebi que se tratava de um livro de contos, acabou por ficar na prateleira à espera de ser lido, porque tenho uma certa renitência em ler contos... A propósito do projecto da Mafalda, Abril Contos Mil, achei que era a altura ideal para lhe pegar. A verdade é que nem pela mão desta querida autora, consigo ficar encantada com contos... É certo que alguns são mais interessantes que outros, mas nenhum deles me deixou arrebatada.
Comentário completo em:
January 2, 2017
Sou fã assumida de Joanne Harris, mas até hoje não tinha saboreado o seu lado de contista. Lembro-me de há uns anos atrás ter agarrado entusiasmadíssima a sua mais recente obra � Danças e Contradanças havia sido lançada há dias � e tê-la pousado de imediato quando me dei conta de que era uma compilação de contos. Contudo, hoje em dia, após ter lido e me ter deliciado com obras deste género injustamente considerado menos interessante, não tenho qualquer pejo em admitir essa minha falha (que durante tanto tempo prejudicou os meus hábitos de leitura) e em apostar na compra de obras como esta que acabei de ler estava 2016 a dar os últimos suspiros.
Quem, como eu, é uma acérrima seguidora de Joanne Harris, sabe que as suas histórias estão povoadas de personagens pouco ortodoxas, enigmáticas, que vão abrindo frechas a um passado e muitas vezes a um presente tortuoso, mas que nos conquistam e nos absorvem de forma inequívoca. Recordo-me de Vianne, a protagonista da trilogia de Chocolate, de Framboise, de Cinco Quartos de Laranja, ou de Madeleine, de A Praia Roubada. São personagens pouco sociáveis, páridas, desconfiadas, habituadas a ser pouco amadas e olhadas com indiferença, medo ou despeito pelos outros. São personagens que facilmente consideraríamos como anti-heróis ou anti-heroínas. Mas são personagens que prefiro mil vezes a personagens boazinhas, gentis e amadas por todos e todas.
Em Um gato, um chapéu e um pedaço de cordel encontrei mais um punhado dessas personagens. Em cenários mais diversificados, que saltam do continente africano, passam pelo europeu e ainda viajam até ao americano. E em tempos que correm como os rápidos do conto inicial ou que se espreguiçam como um gato gordo a apanhar banhos de sol. Mas com o cunho pessoal de Joanne Harris, sem réstias de dúvidas.
Não encontrei o mesmo sabor em todos os contos, como é óbvio. Engoli, sem lhes encontrar o correspondente travo, os contos “O Jogo� ou “Dríade�; enterneci-me com “Bedford Falls não existe�, “Faça você mesmo� ou “Os espíritos de Natal presentes�; contorci-me de compaixão perante dores maternais em “Gostaria de voltar a estabelecer contacto?� e “Cookie�; apoiei e regozijei-me com a vivacidade e motivação de sentirem-se vivas de Faith e Hope, duas anciãs despejadas num lar de terceira idade e saboreei, como se de um chocolatinho se tratasse, a história de amor de “Fantasmas na Máquina�. Contudo, nenhum dos dezasseis contos me arrebatou. Não como o fizeram as obras que mencionei no início desta opinião e que já me levaram a reler duas delas.
Por tudo isto, por tudo o que referi, não posso dizer que me tenha arrependido de ter, em julho, adquirido esta obra. Também não posso dizer que tenha sido uma das melhores aquisições de 2016. Senti-me de novo embrenhada no mundo muito peculiar de Joanne Harris. Criei empatia com a maioria das personagens que habita esta compilação de contos. Mas queria mais. Não narrativas mais longas, mas sim narrativas, contos que me deixassem torcida, com vontade de morder-me de entusiasmo, com o meu íntimo quentinho e fervilhante de emoções contraditórias. Como fiquei com a história de Framboise, por exemplo. Pode ser que encontre tudo isso na última obra que a autora editou por cá e que ainda não habita a prateleira da estante onde já habitam onze dos seus livros. Pode ser que o ano que já está aí me reserva essa surpresa. Ou pelo menos que se inaugure com uma leitura mais preenchida do que esta�
NOTA � 07/10
Quem, como eu, é uma acérrima seguidora de Joanne Harris, sabe que as suas histórias estão povoadas de personagens pouco ortodoxas, enigmáticas, que vão abrindo frechas a um passado e muitas vezes a um presente tortuoso, mas que nos conquistam e nos absorvem de forma inequívoca. Recordo-me de Vianne, a protagonista da trilogia de Chocolate, de Framboise, de Cinco Quartos de Laranja, ou de Madeleine, de A Praia Roubada. São personagens pouco sociáveis, páridas, desconfiadas, habituadas a ser pouco amadas e olhadas com indiferença, medo ou despeito pelos outros. São personagens que facilmente consideraríamos como anti-heróis ou anti-heroínas. Mas são personagens que prefiro mil vezes a personagens boazinhas, gentis e amadas por todos e todas.
Em Um gato, um chapéu e um pedaço de cordel encontrei mais um punhado dessas personagens. Em cenários mais diversificados, que saltam do continente africano, passam pelo europeu e ainda viajam até ao americano. E em tempos que correm como os rápidos do conto inicial ou que se espreguiçam como um gato gordo a apanhar banhos de sol. Mas com o cunho pessoal de Joanne Harris, sem réstias de dúvidas.
Não encontrei o mesmo sabor em todos os contos, como é óbvio. Engoli, sem lhes encontrar o correspondente travo, os contos “O Jogo� ou “Dríade�; enterneci-me com “Bedford Falls não existe�, “Faça você mesmo� ou “Os espíritos de Natal presentes�; contorci-me de compaixão perante dores maternais em “Gostaria de voltar a estabelecer contacto?� e “Cookie�; apoiei e regozijei-me com a vivacidade e motivação de sentirem-se vivas de Faith e Hope, duas anciãs despejadas num lar de terceira idade e saboreei, como se de um chocolatinho se tratasse, a história de amor de “Fantasmas na Máquina�. Contudo, nenhum dos dezasseis contos me arrebatou. Não como o fizeram as obras que mencionei no início desta opinião e que já me levaram a reler duas delas.
Por tudo isto, por tudo o que referi, não posso dizer que me tenha arrependido de ter, em julho, adquirido esta obra. Também não posso dizer que tenha sido uma das melhores aquisições de 2016. Senti-me de novo embrenhada no mundo muito peculiar de Joanne Harris. Criei empatia com a maioria das personagens que habita esta compilação de contos. Mas queria mais. Não narrativas mais longas, mas sim narrativas, contos que me deixassem torcida, com vontade de morder-me de entusiasmo, com o meu íntimo quentinho e fervilhante de emoções contraditórias. Como fiquei com a história de Framboise, por exemplo. Pode ser que encontre tudo isso na última obra que a autora editou por cá e que ainda não habita a prateleira da estante onde já habitam onze dos seus livros. Pode ser que o ano que já está aí me reserva essa surpresa. Ou pelo menos que se inaugure com uma leitura mais preenchida do que esta�
NOTA � 07/10
December 8, 2014
I'd never read any of Joanne Harris' books, only heard about them: , , , the titles practically make me drool, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked up her collection of short stories. I was thinking something light and rambunctious, a warming collection of tales, and what I got was something different entirely. Some of them made me laugh, some made me cry, some were wonderfully thought-provoking and some truly made me appreciate what I have. Harris combines wild fantasy with bittersweet reality and I recommend this book for a cozy Sunday couch read with tea.
Favorites:
Faith and Hope Fly South
Would You Like to Reconnect?
Rainy Days and Mondays
The Ghosts of Christmas Present
Cookie
Dee Eye Why
Faith and Hope Get Even
Favorites:
Faith and Hope Fly South
Would You Like to Reconnect?
Rainy Days and Mondays
The Ghosts of Christmas Present
Cookie
Dee Eye Why
Faith and Hope Get Even
June 14, 2024
3.5 🌟 rounded up
If you were to be stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take?
A cat
A hat
A piece of string
Probably not the answer most people would give but Joanne made perfect sense of her choice�
This book was a collection of short stories all written by Joanne Harris. Though they may seem unconnected at first, some of them are linked to each other and some to her novels.
“Stories are like Russian dolls; open them up, and then each one you’ll find another story…�
My favourites were:
- Faith and Hope fly south - a story of how two old ladies, living in a retirement home, visit the seaside. One blind, one in a wheelchair yet they both experience so much from different aspects that are shared beautifully in this tale.
- There’s no such place as Bedford Falls - a lady completely taken over by the Christmas spirit, but especially by the movie ‘It’s a wonderful life�; she has watched the film 354 times and wanted to live in Bedford Falls so much (despite being told it wasn’t a real place) that she renamed her home Bedford Falls cottage, Festive Road, Malbry. And for her, it is Christmas when see chooses. It was a charming story of the magic of Christmas.
- Cookie - this is a very short but memorable story is about a woman who has had a miscarriage and the dark and complex relationship she gains from baked goods, in place of the baby.
- Dee eye why - this was a wonderful story about how a man deals with this emotions after separation from his wife (and kids). It was captivating from start to finish and ended with a beautiful sentiment “A home is not bricks and mortar. A home is made of those things that endure when the bricks and mortar are gone.�
- Faith and Hope get even - this story contains the same characters that my previous favourite’Faith and Hope fly south� story contained. In this story they are standing up to the health systems, particularly those that take advantage of elderly people in hospitals and care homes. I thought this story had an excellent message and might encourage others to help fight back too.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. As always with a collection of short stories, you probably aren’t going to enjoy every single one of them but I enjoyed most of them and some of them were absolutely fantastic. Harris is undoubtedly imaginative and incredibly witty with a real talent for writing. This was a very well rounded collection of stories that I genuinely think everyone would find something they liked, if not loved 🥰
If you were to be stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take?
A cat
A hat
A piece of string
Probably not the answer most people would give but Joanne made perfect sense of her choice�
This book was a collection of short stories all written by Joanne Harris. Though they may seem unconnected at first, some of them are linked to each other and some to her novels.
“Stories are like Russian dolls; open them up, and then each one you’ll find another story…�
My favourites were:
- Faith and Hope fly south - a story of how two old ladies, living in a retirement home, visit the seaside. One blind, one in a wheelchair yet they both experience so much from different aspects that are shared beautifully in this tale.
- There’s no such place as Bedford Falls - a lady completely taken over by the Christmas spirit, but especially by the movie ‘It’s a wonderful life�; she has watched the film 354 times and wanted to live in Bedford Falls so much (despite being told it wasn’t a real place) that she renamed her home Bedford Falls cottage, Festive Road, Malbry. And for her, it is Christmas when see chooses. It was a charming story of the magic of Christmas.
- Cookie - this is a very short but memorable story is about a woman who has had a miscarriage and the dark and complex relationship she gains from baked goods, in place of the baby.
- Dee eye why - this was a wonderful story about how a man deals with this emotions after separation from his wife (and kids). It was captivating from start to finish and ended with a beautiful sentiment “A home is not bricks and mortar. A home is made of those things that endure when the bricks and mortar are gone.�
- Faith and Hope get even - this story contains the same characters that my previous favourite’Faith and Hope fly south� story contained. In this story they are standing up to the health systems, particularly those that take advantage of elderly people in hospitals and care homes. I thought this story had an excellent message and might encourage others to help fight back too.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. As always with a collection of short stories, you probably aren’t going to enjoy every single one of them but I enjoyed most of them and some of them were absolutely fantastic. Harris is undoubtedly imaginative and incredibly witty with a real talent for writing. This was a very well rounded collection of stories that I genuinely think everyone would find something they liked, if not loved 🥰
October 26, 2018
Назва точно передає характер збірки: всього намішано і поєднано у дуже дивний спосіб. Сподобались розповіді про двох старих дам, що плетуть інтриги та мріють поїхати відпочивати на острови, хоча одна в інвалідному візочку, а інша сліпа. Про жінку, яка вважає (?) себе вагітною через переїдання тістечками і що з цього вийшло. Про іншу жінку, яка закохалась у дерево. Також присутнє все що хочеш: містика, фантастика, сум, ностальгія, горе, роздуми про дітей-рабів з Африки, якісь конфлікти богів, музи-бармени, Твіттер, нічні радіо ді-джеї і... список доволі довгий. Влучнішої назви годі підібрати, хоча ніяких котів, шматків мотузки чи капелюхів і близько не було.
October 17, 2020
Another great collection of short stories from one of the masters of the genre. I loved the author's brief introductions to the stories and also the fact that there were two more stories featuring the fabulous Faith and Hope, residents of the infamous Meadowbank Retirement Home - 9/10.
December 31, 2017
Не си спомням друг път да съм попадала на такъв хитър подход за сборник с разкази, а много ги харесвам. Тук има 15-16 разказа, обединени в няколко сюжетни гнезда. Аз лично изпитах огромно задоволство от живота на Вяра и Надежда, а онези богове на разните стихии, ми бяха адски забавни.
Книжката е прекрасна, авторката въобще не е за подценяване.
Книжката е прекрасна, авторката въобще не е за подценяване.
October 22, 2019
For some reason, I did not find this collection to be as good as the first. The bookend stories - “River Song� and “Road Song� are the best two stories in collection. “Do You Want to ReConnect� is also touching but there seems to be a distant between the stories and the reader. Even for the those stories that are somewhat like BBC comedies.
February 17, 2016
Li até a página 70 mas lamentavelmente os contos não me cativaram a continuar
September 22, 2019
These were great short stories, just as you would expect from Joanne Harris.
The stories are set in different environments, but after half of the book they are taken up again and give the reader a familiarity of déjà vue, and one is therefore delighted once again to experience something with the characters.
(4½)
The stories are set in different environments, but after half of the book they are taken up again and give the reader a familiarity of déjà vue, and one is therefore delighted once again to experience something with the characters.
(4½)
August 7, 2014
3 stars is perhaps a slightly stingy rating: I enjoyed all of this, but collections of short stories are always a bit patchy, and I was hoping for more variation in style/tone. There's a good range of subject matter though: ghosts on the internet, an Elvis impersonator who's also a private detective, an unconventionally haunted mansion, two rebellious old ladies in a retirement home, gods of rain and fire running around Manhattan, a house where it's permanently Christmas (will seem more sinister than it's supposed to if you've read ). My favourite, 'The Game', is about an all-consuming computer game which leads its devotees to ruin, and reads like a particularly good creepypasta. I liked the ways in which the stories intersected and overlapped: many seem to be set in the same town, and characters from one story frequently show up in another. This was an easy to read, consistently enjoyable compilation, if not enormously memorable. I'd certainly read more.
February 4, 2013
4.5 stars
Joanne Harris is really one of my favourite authors. Her books do not disappoint. And even though she has written many, I am captivated by each one and am never bored.
Harries's first short-stories collection Jigs & Reels was the first collection of short stories I ever read out of school and were the first ones that did not make me want to rip out all my hair. :) she is imaginative and all of her stores are scary, thought-provoking, magical, funny and have a very strong voice.
A couple of the ones in this collection were a tad predictable. The Bedford Falls ones didn't really grab me much, but Faith and Hope really did. The second one in this book (the third one in total) was so good it actually made me angry. I wanted to go and slap that stupid Lorraine in the face.
If you aren't a fan of short stories I still suggest you give this one a try. Really.
Joanne Harris is really one of my favourite authors. Her books do not disappoint. And even though she has written many, I am captivated by each one and am never bored.
Harries's first short-stories collection Jigs & Reels was the first collection of short stories I ever read out of school and were the first ones that did not make me want to rip out all my hair. :) she is imaginative and all of her stores are scary, thought-provoking, magical, funny and have a very strong voice.
A couple of the ones in this collection were a tad predictable. The Bedford Falls ones didn't really grab me much, but Faith and Hope really did. The second one in this book (the third one in total) was so good it actually made me angry. I wanted to go and slap that stupid Lorraine in the face.
If you aren't a fan of short stories I still suggest you give this one a try. Really.
October 19, 2015
I don't really want to label this book as being good or bad but it helped me to discover that I really do not enjoy books of short stories. I actually didn't complete reading the book because I couldn't get into it. I don't feel able to really sink into the stories because by the time you have, the story is ending and the next one is starting! This is just my opinion, others might love short stories but they are not for me. I much prefer a book that I can really delve into.
October 13, 2012
I liked it but normally I am not a fan of short stories to begin with so that can really color my view. I didn't enjoy the short stories as much as I have her novels. Some of the stories were sweet but I wasn't as charmed as I usually am by all things Harris writes. I will say the Christmas story was strange and stayed with me. I was also fond of the little old ladies. Good but not great
October 11, 2018
Let's start with: Chocolat is one of my favorite movies, and the book is on my TBR list. I haven't read a book for Joanne Harris before, however, and I think this was a good start.
The book is an assortment of short stories, each with a completely different setting with some related to the others, but most stand alone. In her Forward of the book, Harris states that the stories are all linked through an underlying subtle theme that invested readers would notice. I think it's safe to say that, halfway through the book, I noticed the theme. And it was disturbing.
While most stories look "normal" from the outside, all of the stories in the book are sort of... sick. Seriously, mentally sick. All of the characters have gone through some sort of tough period - though some are not so tough, but still - and have shown quite the mental health sicknesses following these periods.
Most of all, I loved Harris' tendency for open-ended stories that would require the reader's imagination to finish them. Like "What did that character see at the end of that chapter?" "Was that supposed to be something supernatural or is it just in his mind?" "What happened next?!"
I won't divulge any more info, as the slightest detail would give off any of the 10 to 30-page stories. Simply, pick up this book if you're in for some light reads that give your mind an exercise.
The book is an assortment of short stories, each with a completely different setting with some related to the others, but most stand alone. In her Forward of the book, Harris states that the stories are all linked through an underlying subtle theme that invested readers would notice. I think it's safe to say that, halfway through the book, I noticed the theme. And it was disturbing.
While most stories look "normal" from the outside, all of the stories in the book are sort of... sick. Seriously, mentally sick. All of the characters have gone through some sort of tough period - though some are not so tough, but still - and have shown quite the mental health sicknesses following these periods.
Most of all, I loved Harris' tendency for open-ended stories that would require the reader's imagination to finish them. Like "What did that character see at the end of that chapter?" "Was that supposed to be something supernatural or is it just in his mind?" "What happened next?!"
I won't divulge any more info, as the slightest detail would give off any of the 10 to 30-page stories. Simply, pick up this book if you're in for some light reads that give your mind an exercise.
March 12, 2025
Where to even start?! Such a diverse collection, although isolation and obsession that manifested in consuming ways was a recurring them which was explored in all manner of ways. Some of these ways were positively disturbing, as evidenced in Cookie which saw a woman in the throes of grief following a miscarriage lose herself in eating and become convinced that her increased weight was a miraculous pregnancy. The gradual spiralling of her mental health to the extreme detriment of her physical health was genuinely disconcerting! In the midst of the darker themes though, there was humour. Often that humour was a reflection of delusion and tragedy, but I did appreciate the shades in what could otherwise have been quite a bleak collection!
While I wouldn't necessarily seek out more of Joanne Harris' books and felt that some of the stories lacked the substance that could have really elevated the collection as a whole. The Game felt primed to be a standout and perhaps could have carried into a standalone novel, but it felt that Harris lacked conviction/confidence in the overall premise of one of the more technology-orientated stories. Still, pleasant enough and far from the worst Book Club book I've read!
While I wouldn't necessarily seek out more of Joanne Harris' books and felt that some of the stories lacked the substance that could have really elevated the collection as a whole. The Game felt primed to be a standout and perhaps could have carried into a standalone novel, but it felt that Harris lacked conviction/confidence in the overall premise of one of the more technology-orientated stories. Still, pleasant enough and far from the worst Book Club book I've read!
August 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this collection. Mischievous, fun and with some cracking good stories. Her fascination with the gods living amongst us weaves through many of the tales. I loved the rain god who fell for a sun goddess, and the writer who found inspiration from the mundane owners at the railway café (Muse). Faith and Hope featured in several stories: two old ladies rising about the humiliation of a bully in a care home for the elderly to seek justice and respect. Faith and Hope definitely could fill their own collection.
This collection demonstrates that short stories don't have to be serious or gloomy to get a message across.
This collection demonstrates that short stories don't have to be serious or gloomy to get a message across.
July 19, 2024
A great selection of short stories. Some lovely, heart warming, life affirming goodies, but also one or two strange (not really bothered finishing) one's too. It was nice to have a selection and on the whole I did enjoy the book.
December 15, 2024
A solid collection.
July 25, 2024
Não tem ponta por onde se lhe pegue. Um livro sem sentido nenhum. Embora um ou outro conto até me tenha despertado interesse, acabaram sempre de uma forma abrupta sem se conseguir fazer sentido. Uma perda de tempo.
February 10, 2024
Molto raccontato ed in generale non mi è piaciuta l'architettura delle storie. Alcune si salvano, per fortuna.
River Song: Racconto caruccio, senza infamia e senza lode. La scelta della protagonista di non ammettere di aver effettivamente vinto la sfida mi ha irritato (tanto avrebbe potuto rifiutare il posto di capa) ma immagino che si possa giustificare con "è una ragazzina". Odio usare questa scusa per le scelte idiote (o, almeno, che trovo tali) dei personaggi, ma è un mio problema.
Faith and Hope Fly South: Penso sia il racconto migliore della raccolta. Lorraine è una persona di merda e deve soffrire, Chris è una persona meravigliosa.
There's No Such Place as Bedford Falls: neutro, per quanto il natale non mi dica nulla l'ossessione del protagonista per esso non mi ha però irritato. Se vi piace il natale, non è terribile come lettura.
Would You Like To Reconnect: un pugno allo stomaco. Non male come racconto, se volete però leggere qualcosa di leggero saltatelo.
Rainy Days and Mondays: No. Sarà che non mi piace l'espediente narrativo degli dei che vivono come umani; soprattutto, è una specie di romance. Pure banale, lui dio della pioggia, lei dea del sole. Cribbio. OVVIAMENTE scritto male. Dannati alloromantici, non vi potete "innamorare" di gente che non conoscete.
Dryad: Ecco, la gente etero preferisce scrivere e leggere di persone che si innamorano di alberi piuttosto che leggere storie romantiche non etero. Ma .
Harry Stone and the 24-Hour Church of Elvis: Non è terribile, per quanto sia terribile il raccontato. Diciamo che è simpatico per alcune cose.
The Ghosts of Christmas Present: Stesso protagonista del natale, ma stavolta morto, apparentemente. Qualche gradino sotto l'altro, che non era chissà che.
Wildfire in Manhattan: ritornano gli dei che vivono come umani. Il protagonista stavolta è un dio del fuoco. Un pezzo di m che metà sarebbe bastata a combinare gli stessi casini. Se ne frega degli altri dei (non aiuta un dio della luna a non morire a causa di due creature strane, se ne frega quando suo fratello muore), vuole solo salvare la pellaccia e l'unico motivo per cui TENTA di aiutare una persona è che il dio della pioggia di cui sopra (stavolta con l'aspetto diverso, grosso e nerboruto) lo minaccia. Ed entrambi sono PURE INUTILI. Cercano di salvare la dea del sole di cui sopra (che oh, è stata umana troppo a lungo e quindi ha dimenticato tutto) solo per rischiare di crepare ed essere salvati da lei che (sorpresa) non ha mai dimenticato nulla e si è pure accorta della cotta dell'imbecille della pioggia. Mi piacciono i personaggi che sembrano deboli e che si rivelano forti, ma è l'unica cosa che si salva del racconto, per me.
Cookie: Ecco, no, uno dei tre racconti più brutti. Donna ignorata dal marito (grassofobico, cerca di impedirle di mangiare dolci) specialmente dopo che perde un figlio per un aborto (ricordo, l'aborto è quello spontaneo e l'interruzione di gravidanza è quella volontaria). Inizia ad ingozzarsi di cibo, rimane incinta, sembra una gravidanza isterica ma alla fine si scopre che era sul serio incinta, di non si sa chi. Ora, se l'autrice avesse MOSTRATO una bambina ibrido umano-dolci, la storia avrebbe avuto un senso. No, la cosa ci viene DETTA. Non si capisce nemmeno se sia una bimba umana o mista o chissà cosa. Ma vaff.
Ghosts in the Machine: Il secondo/terzo racconto più bello della raccolta. Pro: fondamentalmente quasi tutto. Lei, cieca, da mezzanotte alle tre ascolta una radio, alla quale manda mail per richiedere canzoni. Lui, si trova benissimo a lavorare lì di notte. L'atmosfera è veramente tranquilla, proprio come la notte. I personaggi sono credibili. Il finale, con loro due che si sa che si incontreranno, è banale ma molto carino e si spera proprio che accada.
Contro: quello meno grave è che lei si innamora di lui dopo aver sentito la sua voce. Certo, è meno grave del solito perché è spiegato che lei ascolta da un sacco di tempo la radio, che lui mette canzoni per farle piacere e che "la capisce", però comunque non ci sono le basi. La cosa peggiore, invece, è che lui ha scelto un lavoro solitario e notturno perché... ha una voglia sul viso. La gente lo guarda e si spaventa. Lui stesso ha perso la fiducia in sé stesso. Da persona disabile, vorrei prendere a gommapiumate l'autrice. Non solo è una caratterizzazione banale e cliché, ma è anche la solita narrazione del cavolo sulle persone "non conformi". La protagonista aveva una sua routine, che spiegava la scelta di stare in piedi la notte. Lui no, lui è solo "brutto". Mi sono incazzato tantissimo a leggere quelle parti.
Consiglio il racconto, se non vi salta la mosca al naso per questa scelta. Io me lo sono goduto lo stesso, ma sono comunque tutt'ora incazzato.
Dee Eye Why: Secondo racconto peggiore della raccolta. Un tizio si ritrova col matrimonio sfasciato senza un buon motivo. Va a vivere in una casa mezza diroccata e la mette a posto. Diventa ossessionato dalla famiglia che ha da sempre avuto quella casa (tutti morti ormai). La moglie prova a rimettere a posto le cose ma lui, SENZA SPIEGARE NULLA, non vuole. Cioè, a noi lettori la narratrice (sigh) lo ha raccontato, ma lui non dice nulla alla moglie. Finisce che sembra che faccia un viaggio temporale e si ritrovi nel corpo di uno della famiglia, ma non si capisce veramente.
Muse: Secondo/terzo racconto migliore della raccolta. Ripetete con me: se siete scrittori dovete architettare le storie, non scrivere aspettando l'ispirazione come il protagonista della storia. A parte questo, il plot twist l'ho apprezzato parecchio, specialmente perché uno degli indizi seminati mi aveva fatto pensare ad un locale tenuto dalla criminalità organizzata e non da tre delle muse.
The Game: terzo racconto peggiore della raccolta. "Il gioco" è la vita. Vai avanti, ci rimani appiccicato, muori a caso. Idea banale, esecuzione pessima e messaggio ancora peggiore. L'autrice ci dice che "il livello X non è mai esistito ma noi non lo diciamo perché senza uno scopo la gente diventerebbe pazza". Invece avrebbe dovuto dire che lo scopo ce lo creiamo noi. Cribbio.
Faith and Hope get even: di nuovo, Lorraine è la persona peggiore che potreste incontrare a lavoro e Chris la migliore. Il finale, nel quale Lorraine viene licenziata, non mi ha soddisfatto tanto quanto avrei sperato. Avrei voluto vederla pagare molto di più per la sua malvagità. Storia molto, molto banale.
Road Song: per il finale, un altro pugno nello stomaco, ma almeno qui c'è un bel messaggio di speranza che migliora tutto.
River Song: Racconto caruccio, senza infamia e senza lode. La scelta della protagonista di non ammettere di aver effettivamente vinto la sfida mi ha irritato (tanto avrebbe potuto rifiutare il posto di capa) ma immagino che si possa giustificare con "è una ragazzina". Odio usare questa scusa per le scelte idiote (o, almeno, che trovo tali) dei personaggi, ma è un mio problema.
Faith and Hope Fly South: Penso sia il racconto migliore della raccolta. Lorraine è una persona di merda e deve soffrire, Chris è una persona meravigliosa.
There's No Such Place as Bedford Falls: neutro, per quanto il natale non mi dica nulla l'ossessione del protagonista per esso non mi ha però irritato. Se vi piace il natale, non è terribile come lettura.
Would You Like To Reconnect: un pugno allo stomaco. Non male come racconto, se volete però leggere qualcosa di leggero saltatelo.
Rainy Days and Mondays: No. Sarà che non mi piace l'espediente narrativo degli dei che vivono come umani; soprattutto, è una specie di romance. Pure banale, lui dio della pioggia, lei dea del sole. Cribbio. OVVIAMENTE scritto male. Dannati alloromantici, non vi potete "innamorare" di gente che non conoscete.
Dryad: Ecco, la gente etero preferisce scrivere e leggere di persone che si innamorano di alberi piuttosto che leggere storie romantiche non etero. Ma .
Harry Stone and the 24-Hour Church of Elvis: Non è terribile, per quanto sia terribile il raccontato. Diciamo che è simpatico per alcune cose.
The Ghosts of Christmas Present: Stesso protagonista del natale, ma stavolta morto, apparentemente. Qualche gradino sotto l'altro, che non era chissà che.
Wildfire in Manhattan: ritornano gli dei che vivono come umani. Il protagonista stavolta è un dio del fuoco. Un pezzo di m che metà sarebbe bastata a combinare gli stessi casini. Se ne frega degli altri dei (non aiuta un dio della luna a non morire a causa di due creature strane, se ne frega quando suo fratello muore), vuole solo salvare la pellaccia e l'unico motivo per cui TENTA di aiutare una persona è che il dio della pioggia di cui sopra (stavolta con l'aspetto diverso, grosso e nerboruto) lo minaccia. Ed entrambi sono PURE INUTILI. Cercano di salvare la dea del sole di cui sopra (che oh, è stata umana troppo a lungo e quindi ha dimenticato tutto) solo per rischiare di crepare ed essere salvati da lei che (sorpresa) non ha mai dimenticato nulla e si è pure accorta della cotta dell'imbecille della pioggia. Mi piacciono i personaggi che sembrano deboli e che si rivelano forti, ma è l'unica cosa che si salva del racconto, per me.
Cookie: Ecco, no, uno dei tre racconti più brutti. Donna ignorata dal marito (grassofobico, cerca di impedirle di mangiare dolci) specialmente dopo che perde un figlio per un aborto (ricordo, l'aborto è quello spontaneo e l'interruzione di gravidanza è quella volontaria). Inizia ad ingozzarsi di cibo, rimane incinta, sembra una gravidanza isterica ma alla fine si scopre che era sul serio incinta, di non si sa chi. Ora, se l'autrice avesse MOSTRATO una bambina ibrido umano-dolci, la storia avrebbe avuto un senso. No, la cosa ci viene DETTA. Non si capisce nemmeno se sia una bimba umana o mista o chissà cosa. Ma vaff.
Ghosts in the Machine: Il secondo/terzo racconto più bello della raccolta. Pro: fondamentalmente quasi tutto. Lei, cieca, da mezzanotte alle tre ascolta una radio, alla quale manda mail per richiedere canzoni. Lui, si trova benissimo a lavorare lì di notte. L'atmosfera è veramente tranquilla, proprio come la notte. I personaggi sono credibili. Il finale, con loro due che si sa che si incontreranno, è banale ma molto carino e si spera proprio che accada.
Contro: quello meno grave è che lei si innamora di lui dopo aver sentito la sua voce. Certo, è meno grave del solito perché è spiegato che lei ascolta da un sacco di tempo la radio, che lui mette canzoni per farle piacere e che "la capisce", però comunque non ci sono le basi. La cosa peggiore, invece, è che lui ha scelto un lavoro solitario e notturno perché... ha una voglia sul viso. La gente lo guarda e si spaventa. Lui stesso ha perso la fiducia in sé stesso. Da persona disabile, vorrei prendere a gommapiumate l'autrice. Non solo è una caratterizzazione banale e cliché, ma è anche la solita narrazione del cavolo sulle persone "non conformi". La protagonista aveva una sua routine, che spiegava la scelta di stare in piedi la notte. Lui no, lui è solo "brutto". Mi sono incazzato tantissimo a leggere quelle parti.
Consiglio il racconto, se non vi salta la mosca al naso per questa scelta. Io me lo sono goduto lo stesso, ma sono comunque tutt'ora incazzato.
Dee Eye Why: Secondo racconto peggiore della raccolta. Un tizio si ritrova col matrimonio sfasciato senza un buon motivo. Va a vivere in una casa mezza diroccata e la mette a posto. Diventa ossessionato dalla famiglia che ha da sempre avuto quella casa (tutti morti ormai). La moglie prova a rimettere a posto le cose ma lui, SENZA SPIEGARE NULLA, non vuole. Cioè, a noi lettori la narratrice (sigh) lo ha raccontato, ma lui non dice nulla alla moglie. Finisce che sembra che faccia un viaggio temporale e si ritrovi nel corpo di uno della famiglia, ma non si capisce veramente.
Muse: Secondo/terzo racconto migliore della raccolta. Ripetete con me: se siete scrittori dovete architettare le storie, non scrivere aspettando l'ispirazione come il protagonista della storia. A parte questo, il plot twist l'ho apprezzato parecchio, specialmente perché uno degli indizi seminati mi aveva fatto pensare ad un locale tenuto dalla criminalità organizzata e non da tre delle muse.
The Game: terzo racconto peggiore della raccolta. "Il gioco" è la vita. Vai avanti, ci rimani appiccicato, muori a caso. Idea banale, esecuzione pessima e messaggio ancora peggiore. L'autrice ci dice che "il livello X non è mai esistito ma noi non lo diciamo perché senza uno scopo la gente diventerebbe pazza". Invece avrebbe dovuto dire che lo scopo ce lo creiamo noi. Cribbio.
Faith and Hope get even: di nuovo, Lorraine è la persona peggiore che potreste incontrare a lavoro e Chris la migliore. Il finale, nel quale Lorraine viene licenziata, non mi ha soddisfatto tanto quanto avrei sperato. Avrei voluto vederla pagare molto di più per la sua malvagità. Storia molto, molto banale.
Road Song: per il finale, un altro pugno nello stomaco, ma almeno qui c'è un bel messaggio di speranza che migliora tutto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2022
Joanne Harris explains the curious title in her introduction - you won't, as I recall, find a cat, a hat or a piece of string featuring prominently in this collection of short stories, but you will find examples of what they represent.
It's a varied but not uneven set and I enjoyed the short paragraphs explaining the genesis or background to them. Some are there because of Harris' international charity roles. I don't care for ghost stories in general but hers are more 'uncanny' and palatable enough for the likes of me. I enjoyed the characters of Faith and Hope, elderly women in residential care who appear in two stories, surrounded by staff types I recognise all too well. Some are written in a genre with which I am not that familiar.
So this is a good book, yet I felt something very subtly off about it, as though these were a series of set exercises, expertly executed... I couldn't see the pencil marks or the joins or however it is each story is constructed, but somehow felt their existence just enough to affect my engagement.
It's a varied but not uneven set and I enjoyed the short paragraphs explaining the genesis or background to them. Some are there because of Harris' international charity roles. I don't care for ghost stories in general but hers are more 'uncanny' and palatable enough for the likes of me. I enjoyed the characters of Faith and Hope, elderly women in residential care who appear in two stories, surrounded by staff types I recognise all too well. Some are written in a genre with which I am not that familiar.
So this is a good book, yet I felt something very subtly off about it, as though these were a series of set exercises, expertly executed... I couldn't see the pencil marks or the joins or however it is each story is constructed, but somehow felt their existence just enough to affect my engagement.
February 26, 2016
This book was so utterly charming it took me by surprise. I had initially picked it up after reading the back quickly and finding it intriguing.
I'd never read Harris before, but I'm certainly glad I did. Her ideas are so simple, yet so interesting, and pulled off in such a way that they really make the reader feel something. Her "horror" shorts were so haunting, and I adored her stories of Faith and Hope, the elderly dears living in a home and facing their own challenges.
Her characters are very intriguing, and I just adore her writing style. I had a hard time putting it down. I would read one story and tell myself, "Ah, just one more", until the next thing I knew I reached the end.
I really look forward to reading more from this author!
I'd never read Harris before, but I'm certainly glad I did. Her ideas are so simple, yet so interesting, and pulled off in such a way that they really make the reader feel something. Her "horror" shorts were so haunting, and I adored her stories of Faith and Hope, the elderly dears living in a home and facing their own challenges.
Her characters are very intriguing, and I just adore her writing style. I had a hard time putting it down. I would read one story and tell myself, "Ah, just one more", until the next thing I knew I reached the end.
I really look forward to reading more from this author!
December 14, 2012
I loved A Cat, A Hat and a Piece of String. It was wonderful to meet new characters, and revisit old friends. To see what Faith and Hope were up to was almost bittersweet, for in "Jigs and Reels" (another of Joanne Harris' collections of short stories) they manage to escape to go shopping, yet now their freedom has been curtailed.
I loved seeing Lucky again, and reading the stories of the other Aspects.
I haven't read any of Joanne's books for a while, and it felt wonderfully refreshing to open the pages of her stories again.
I loved seeing Lucky again, and reading the stories of the other Aspects.
I haven't read any of Joanne's books for a while, and it felt wonderfully refreshing to open the pages of her stories again.
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