Joe SipleBesprekingen

Intense book. Sad. Recommend it.

This was a heartwarming story of an unlikely friendship that develops between Murray McBride, a grumpy centenarian and a 10-year-old boy, Jason Cashman, who has a failing heart. Neither expects to live much longer but when Murray decides to become Jason's Big Brother, a wonderful bond grows as Murray is determined to help him achieve the five wishes he has on his bucket list.

While the story made me smile and cry, I didn't think it was as good as "A Man Called Ove" or "The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett". These two novels had more depth, humour and poignancy than "The Five Wishes of Mr Murray McBride". However, it was still a sweet read.½

Great novel. Easy reading but a deep subject.
At 100 years old, Murray McBride has outlived everyone he's ever loved. But when he meets Jason Cashman, a 10-year-old boy with a terminal illness, Murray may learn something about finding meaning in life as he helps his young friend fulfill his last wishes.

Great book to read about a 100 year old man that makes friends with a 10 year old boy that needs a heart transplant. It made a difference in both of their lives. Was a bit slow at times but we’ll worth reading on through.

At 100 years old, Murray McBride has outlived everyone he's ever loved. But when he meets Jason Cashman, a 10-year-old boy with a terminal illness, Murray may learn something about finding meaning in life as he helps his young friend fulfill his last wishes.

The MC is a man-child baseball player facing some big decisions regarding his career (a chance at the big leagues) and family. The latter of which includes an awkward, 12-year-old sister, and an ailing father. There is also some baggage with his old high school girlfriend. This wholesome and sentimental family drama, set in the mid-West (US), feels like a Disney movie. It reminded me a little of “Field of Dreams” and a “Prayer for Owen Meaney”.
I was gifted a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I was glad there was a second book to read after the first one. This gives the closure that left me wanting for more from the first book. I'd read it again and probably will at some point.

A touching book and one that gives you the feels and at times in need of a tissue.

Reading this book is like reading a Hallmark movie. It's sweet, sometimes sentimental, sometimes predictable, but a quick and pleasant read, good for bedtime reading. A 100 year old man joins a dying child and helps the kid achieve the 5 things on his bucket list. You have to suspend belief and understanding of the way the world actually works, but a good read. You can't help but root foe these likable characters.

Profound- incredibly moving.

Another amazing book

This is a hallmark movie in a book - a good beach read but pretty predictable with a few jerks on your heart strings. But, I was surprised how much I thought about it the next day. I felt like I was part of the characters’ lives and felt semi attached to the story.

Prospero, the magician, just before going onstage at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., tells his biographer Miles, his story.
We meet Mr. Murray McBride on his 100th birthday as he visits with his doctor. His wife and two sons are both dead and his relationship with his grandson Chance is not good. He has nothing meaningful to do until he decides to go to the children's section of a local hospital to volunteer. There he meets Jason Cashman, a 10-year old who needs a new heart and wants a Big Brother. Murray becomes his Big Brother and decides to help him fulfill as many of his 5 wishes as he can. Wishes included, (1) kiss a girl on the lips (2) hit a home run in a major league baseball stadium (3) be a superhero (4) find a nice boyfriend for his Mom and (5) do real magic. Fortunately, Murray McBride, has been a Chicago Cubs baseball player when he was young and was pretty good. The story focuses on how Murray helps Jason complete his five wishes with the help of Jason's childhood friend, Tiegan Rose Marie Atherton and how they both survived longer together.

In The Final Wish of Mr. Murray McBride, Joe Siple takes readers on a remarkable and compassionate journey. We enter the lives of the young and the not so young, the healthy and those suffering from chronic illness. For Jason it’s about coping with a failing heart transplant and the complicated feelings he holds for the donor. Young Alexandra shows how it’s possible (given the right treatment) to manage disease effectively. Here we have fiction that extends the legacy of an earlier friendship with Mr. Murray McBride and continues the pattern of intergenerational relationships. It’s positive to see those suffering illness and disease given a platform. In a totally appropriate novel for our time, readers begin to understand the experiences of characters who seek a safer yet illegal life in America and who want nothing more than the opportunity to contribute to the community where appropriate help is offered. In this outstanding story, full of twists and turns, Joe Siple’s characters are courageous in the face of challenges but totally human with regrets, weaknesses, feelings of guilt, fears and hopes. This is a wonderfully affirming read which offers powerful messages about acceptance and belonging.

This book is a sequel to Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride but enough of the first book is conveyed in this book that it can stand alone. It is a heartwarming story of a man who helps a girl complete five wishes and finds himself along the way. At times it was a little cheesy or things worked out a little too conveniently but overall it was a good story well told.

The memory of Murray McBride lives on in this heartwarming novel by Joe Siple as Father James pairs up another unlikely duo.
All the feels come back as Jason returns to Lemon Grove still grieving after 20 years. While seeking guidance from Father James, Jason meets an exuberant young illegal immigrant girl, Alexandra. Together they embark on series of thought provoking and challenging adventures.
This story is beautiful, suspenseful and relevant. It will fill your heart with both joy, and sadness. You will both cheer and be outraged. But ultimately, you will be uplifted and your faith in humanity restored.

This story takes place 20 years after 'The five wishes of Mr. Murray McBride'. Once again it involves an adult (though much younger than in the first book) and a child. Once again both are facing physical and moral hardships requiring difficult decisions. It introduces a lot of subjects which can lead you to thinking about how you socialize with others, manage guilt, mourning, responsibilities, how immigrants are treated, so racism and prejudice, friendship, empathy, ...
Once again Joe Siple has written a very good book and I enjoyed reading it.

A heartwarming story of second chances.
Upon the advice of his Doctor, 100 year old Murray McBride must seek out ways to socialize. After a couple embarrassing situations as a model, Mr. McBride sets his sights on volunteering at the local hospital. It is here that he meets a young boy with a bucket list.
This charming story will pull at your heartstrings as their friendship unfolds and each is given a new purpose in life. Funny, thought provoking and heartfelt, the cast of characters are all wonderful.
Though short in length, this novel has quite a bit of action and packs an emotional punch.

This a book for all dog lovers, as it shows how things can end up through our very misguided actions. Ashley and Mason best friends forever, come upon an old book in the library that discusses a time when dogs were man’s best friend, and everyone had one they loved and cherished. Though they try to find out more information, they are denied access to information because, when they begin searching for information on their computer, it shouts out, “Classified Information. Access denied. Dissatisfied, the pair sets out on an adventure to find out what really happened and what, if anything, is still going on. The book follows their progress on this adventure, along with that of a few discarded/lost dogs. Are there any answers to be found? What will happen along the way?

As I said, this is a good book for dog lovers. As the journey for the truth moves along, the reader will cheer on the dogs who are managing to survive, as well as the courageous pair who will face any obstacle to find out what is really going on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I found it easy to recognize the dog breeds just from reading how they acted and reacted. The humans in the book were also quite interesting to watch. Ashley and Mason are definitely not your average kids, but are fairly intelligent and resourceful in their endeavors. However, do not think this is a feel-good story because there are many somber moments throughout, as you read what the pair and their counterpart dogs are going through. I recommend this book to any dog lover or “wanna-be” dog lover, as it will touch and warm your soul. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.

THE LAST DOGS by Joe Siple

THE LAST DOGS shows the reader a world of the future, where dogs are believed to be violent and dangerous, and most of them have been rounded up and killed. Only a few dozen still survive.
Best friends Ashley and Mason come across an old book in the school library that tells of a time when dogs were man’s best friend, and most people owned at least one. Before they can find out more, the computer file is blacked out, with this message: “Classified Information. Access Denied.”
The two friends decide to search for the truth about dogs, and they set off on the great adventure. But what will happen to them if dogs really are dangerous?
THE LAST DOGS is a compelling story that asks the question, what might happen if a species becomes extinct through man’s deliberate but misguided actions?
Any dog lover will recognize the personalities of the different dog breeds, and will cheer for them as the last few struggle to survive. Siple’s descriptions of the Great Dane Amy-Bell’s behavior in particular will ring true for anyone who owns a dog. Keep the tissues handy when you read this one!

This is a beautiful story about love. A fathers love for his daughter, a new love between Jamison and Aspen, and a look at small town living.

I won this book as part of a giveaway. Many thanks to the author and publisher. This is an honest review.

I loved this book. It is a heartwarming tale about love and friendship.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Siple book and will definitely not be the last!

The Town with No Roads captured my attention from the first few paragraphs and it was amazing.

From beginning to end, it had romance, drama, and lessons learned.

A beautiful book with important lessons for everyone.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read Joe's other book, The Five Wishes of Mr. Murry McBride, last year and I was an instant fan of Joe Siple. When I was given the chance to read another book, I was thrilled!

The Town with No Roads takes place in a small Minnesota town with no roads. Everyone knows everyone, at least to some degree. We meet Aspen Collins as she is leaving the hospital. Her father is in a coma and is dying of cancer. The staff has a meeting every day at 5 pm to decide when to wake her father up, knowing he will only live for a short time after they wake him up. Aspen plans her life around those meetings, not wanting to miss the change to say goodbye to her father.

The town is turned on its head when notes written by Aspen's father start showing up. He is in a coma, but there is no doubt that it is her father's writing or that he seems to be aware of the events that are happening while he lies in his coma.

The notes draw the attention of a local news station so they send Jamison to report on the notes. This changes the town from a sleepy town where everyone knows everyone to a media circus.

This is a wonderful story of love, sacrifice, forgiveness and what really defines a family. If you are looking for a feel-good book, this is the book for you!

This one is a very touching and heartwarming story and is best read during Christmas or when you realize that you need some affection