Helen J. Beal
Auteur van Half a Dozen Star Jumps
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Fotografie: Author: Helen J Beal
Werken van Helen J. Beal
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Algemene kennis
- Geslacht
- female
- Korte biografie
- Helen J Beal was born in York in the north of England in 1974. She has a professional background in Information Technology sales, specializing in creating and growing start-up businesses.
She is the author of three novels: Thirty Seconds Before Midnight, Rich in Small Things and Riding a Tiger, and a collection of short stories: Half a Dozen Star Jumps. She is currently working on her fourth novel.
Helen runs a writing group and a book club where she now lives in Chichester, West Sussex. She is particularly fond of llamas and tortoises and is addicted to Scrabble.
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Rich in Small Things by Helen J Beal is a story focusing on how much the small things in life actually mean to us.
First Paragraph:
"I am horizontal, mid-air, my feet planting into his chest. He sprawls backwards and the anger knotted inside of me bursts out of my mouth in a shout as he thumps down onto the mat. He scrambles to his feet and comes at me again and in my mind I see myself yesterday, stood up against the window in the office with its view out across the docklands, along with the rest of the trading floor, suited and booted, being told we no longer have jobs and as he tries to jab me my bile rises and I block him, sweep his feet from under him and hop from foot to foot, arms raised and ready. I turn from my waist and switch my front and back feet and then back again."
PLOT
Melissa had was she considered her perfect job. Working as a city trader she made more than enough to get by, and enjoyed the finer things in life. Now her decade of service has gone down the tube, as the economy hits the company and thousands of employees are made redundant. Luckily she has enough saved to last a few months, but a new job is top priority on her now considerably empty 'To-do' list. Especially with her hobby.
Melissa enjoys online poker, and she's very good at it. But now that she's unemployed, she realises just how little social life she actually has. No friends and the only person she sees on any regular basis is her grandmother- Babu. Desperate for some face-to-face company, she decides to try her luck at a poker game downtown- resulting with her being scouted by a less than scrupulous character. Her poker skills get her noticed by his boss- Victor, who invites her to a private high-stakes game. Despite the fact that he is clearly the type of man you never want to owe money to (and is probably pretty much a sure bet to win) she buys in- for £25,000. Six players, and her confidence is her downfall. She makes a mistake and ends up £175,000 in debt- more than three triple what she has in the bank, plus interest.
Victor makes her a deal. He likes her. If she joins his team he will clear the debt. She declines, realising the kind of men they are, but is now spectacularly indebted to a Ukrainian mobster. With very little options, she takes any work she can find. In this case, a waitress at a small cafe- where she bumps into an old school friend- Julia- who tells her all about the Ulaanbaatar Cup- a kind of car race from Hyde Park to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia- with a prize of £1,000,000. Melissa sees her chance, however slim it may be, and she and Julia decide to give it a try.
Meanwhile, a couple other teams are preparing for the same race. Some for the experience, others for the cash. One of the teams is one of Victor's- who has the race on the books. He's determined his team wins- not only for the large gambling sum that will come his way, but also to force Melissa to work for him.
Slowly the groups all begin to interact. They discuss the race, the riddles they are given for bonus points, and what they would do with the money. And slowly, bonds are formed. There are (of course) more than a few mishaps along the way- some accidental, some not. With very few rules regarding sportsmanship and such a large prize to be had, there's plenty of hijinks and some sabotage. But soon each character will realise just what a difference five weeks can make.
REVIEW
This is a book with interesting, fallible characters- and none of them are clear cut. There is no black and white. Each character can forgive or be forgiven, and those that start off seeming like the antagonists are just people by the end. Neither right or wrong, capable of both good and bad. One of the recurring themes of the story is that everybody has the ability to change, given the right incentive. Likewise, the characters can make mistakes. There are areas where occasionally a character seems to have inexcusably poor judgement, but you can let it slide, not because it isn't stupid (because let's face it, it is), but because sometimes people do, say or believe stupid things.
The story focuses on its title, managing to deliver a realistic path that leads the characters to each of their own revelations and the beginnings of change. We know from the start how the book will end (or at least can make an educated guess), but like the plot that draws each character in, we're along for the ride. As the old saying goes, "It is not the destination, but the journey."
I thoroughly enjoy road-trip based stories. They offer all the usual things characters go through to reach the people they become by the end of the story, but add in some adventure and sight-seeing. All the different locations and their descriptions, never fail to entice and enthral me. Not only that, but these types of plots help the reader feel like they've travelled the distance with the characters. It makes the 'journey' seem longer and more real- so we experience some its the length too. Not anywhere near as much of the characters, of course, but enough to give us a taster of the weariness, or the sense of triumph and accomplishment once the end is reached.
The only criticism I have is understandable, but slows the story down. A lot of the information is repeated again and again. Each group of characters discuss the Ulaanbaatar Cup in their own times and places, going over a lot of the things we already know. It makes sense that they would each discuss the race, but we don't need to see it for each group. The race doesn't even get going until around two hundred pages in.
Another minor issue was some of the writing- or rather spelling and grammar. Some of the wording can seem a little off- as though it's a bad translation. There are also a few grammatical/ spelling errors or inconsistencies, but overall I don't really count them as common enough or severe enough to be problems. I was still happily able to enjoy the story.
OVERALL
A fun, entertaining read. Part adventure, part romance and part comedy. Perfect to take along on any adventures you may be planning yourself, or to relive the memories and emotions of a past excursion. It left me with an overwhelming sense to start my own month long road-trip.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author through a giveaway. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.… (meer)
First Paragraph:
"I am horizontal, mid-air, my feet planting into his chest. He sprawls backwards and the anger knotted inside of me bursts out of my mouth in a shout as he thumps down onto the mat. He scrambles to his feet and comes at me again and in my mind I see myself yesterday, stood up against the window in the office with its view out across the docklands, along with the rest of the trading floor, suited and booted, being told we no longer have jobs and as he tries to jab me my bile rises and I block him, sweep his feet from under him and hop from foot to foot, arms raised and ready. I turn from my waist and switch my front and back feet and then back again."
PLOT
Melissa had was she considered her perfect job. Working as a city trader she made more than enough to get by, and enjoyed the finer things in life. Now her decade of service has gone down the tube, as the economy hits the company and thousands of employees are made redundant. Luckily she has enough saved to last a few months, but a new job is top priority on her now considerably empty 'To-do' list. Especially with her hobby.
Melissa enjoys online poker, and she's very good at it. But now that she's unemployed, she realises just how little social life she actually has. No friends and the only person she sees on any regular basis is her grandmother- Babu. Desperate for some face-to-face company, she decides to try her luck at a poker game downtown- resulting with her being scouted by a less than scrupulous character. Her poker skills get her noticed by his boss- Victor, who invites her to a private high-stakes game. Despite the fact that he is clearly the type of man you never want to owe money to (and is probably pretty much a sure bet to win) she buys in- for £25,000. Six players, and her confidence is her downfall. She makes a mistake and ends up £175,000 in debt- more than three triple what she has in the bank, plus interest.
Victor makes her a deal. He likes her. If she joins his team he will clear the debt. She declines, realising the kind of men they are, but is now spectacularly indebted to a Ukrainian mobster. With very little options, she takes any work she can find. In this case, a waitress at a small cafe- where she bumps into an old school friend- Julia- who tells her all about the Ulaanbaatar Cup- a kind of car race from Hyde Park to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia- with a prize of £1,000,000. Melissa sees her chance, however slim it may be, and she and Julia decide to give it a try.
Meanwhile, a couple other teams are preparing for the same race. Some for the experience, others for the cash. One of the teams is one of Victor's- who has the race on the books. He's determined his team wins- not only for the large gambling sum that will come his way, but also to force Melissa to work for him.
Slowly the groups all begin to interact. They discuss the race, the riddles they are given for bonus points, and what they would do with the money. And slowly, bonds are formed. There are (of course) more than a few mishaps along the way- some accidental, some not. With very few rules regarding sportsmanship and such a large prize to be had, there's plenty of hijinks and some sabotage. But soon each character will realise just what a difference five weeks can make.
REVIEW
This is a book with interesting, fallible characters- and none of them are clear cut. There is no black and white. Each character can forgive or be forgiven, and those that start off seeming like the antagonists are just people by the end. Neither right or wrong, capable of both good and bad. One of the recurring themes of the story is that everybody has the ability to change, given the right incentive. Likewise, the characters can make mistakes. There are areas where occasionally a character seems to have inexcusably poor judgement, but you can let it slide, not because it isn't stupid (because let's face it, it is), but because sometimes people do, say or believe stupid things.
The story focuses on its title, managing to deliver a realistic path that leads the characters to each of their own revelations and the beginnings of change. We know from the start how the book will end (or at least can make an educated guess), but like the plot that draws each character in, we're along for the ride. As the old saying goes, "It is not the destination, but the journey."
I thoroughly enjoy road-trip based stories. They offer all the usual things characters go through to reach the people they become by the end of the story, but add in some adventure and sight-seeing. All the different locations and their descriptions, never fail to entice and enthral me. Not only that, but these types of plots help the reader feel like they've travelled the distance with the characters. It makes the 'journey' seem longer and more real- so we experience some its the length too. Not anywhere near as much of the characters, of course, but enough to give us a taster of the weariness, or the sense of triumph and accomplishment once the end is reached.
The only criticism I have is understandable, but slows the story down. A lot of the information is repeated again and again. Each group of characters discuss the Ulaanbaatar Cup in their own times and places, going over a lot of the things we already know. It makes sense that they would each discuss the race, but we don't need to see it for each group. The race doesn't even get going until around two hundred pages in.
Another minor issue was some of the writing- or rather spelling and grammar. Some of the wording can seem a little off- as though it's a bad translation. There are also a few grammatical/ spelling errors or inconsistencies, but overall I don't really count them as common enough or severe enough to be problems. I was still happily able to enjoy the story.
OVERALL
A fun, entertaining read. Part adventure, part romance and part comedy. Perfect to take along on any adventures you may be planning yourself, or to relive the memories and emotions of a past excursion. It left me with an overwhelming sense to start my own month long road-trip.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author through a giveaway. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.… (meer)
Half a Dozen Star Jumps by Helen Beal are a bit surprising. I expected more sci fi related, but this collection of short stories is very different. They are well written and engaging. Particularly haunting was the one about 9/11. That one will stay with me for quite a while. The stories are thought provoking.
Half a Dozen Star Jumps by Helen J Beal is a collection of six short stories.
The first, "The Sculptor's Muse" is the story of an artist enchanted by a singer. Red, black and white play a motif through this short and sweet story.
Inspiration comes in many forms and a muse can be a reciprocal thing.
In the second, "Blackberry and Apple Crumble", a young, married couple are hitting a few snags in their very new marriage. This causes a lot of tension. So when they discover that both their phones are missing, they are quick to blame each other. Can the Christmas spirit and some delicious treats bring back the spark?
This is a humorous little story that defines the saying, "You are what you eat."
Thirdly, there is "The Jigsaw Fairy". Dan ran away from home in the middle of the night three years ago when he was sixteen. His parents were overly critical and unsupportive, so he just packed up and left. One Christmas Eve, he left a jigsaw puzzle on their doorstop. Now he's breaking into the house to finish it for them. He's certainly planning on leaving his mark.
Next is "The Blight of Blossom". An old woman looks out over a cherry orchard and reminisces about how the human race fell, leaving a few survivors to rebuild on the moon. They live in a biodome where everything is controlled. She remembers what life was like before the end came, and what's come since.
Loneliness has many forms.
In the penultimate story, "Flutter to a Fall" we meet eighteen-year-old Tilly and her friend, Izzy. Returning from a week at Glastonbury, the two girls are staying at Izzy's house (well, castle. A huge castle) with the rest of her family. On the night they arrive, Tilly spots an owl. The family react very oddly to this news.
Every castle has its ghosts. People are complex. Sometimes, you have to see the signs.
The last story is "The Thought Collector", and is based on real events. When the World Trade Center stood before 9/11, one of them held a 28-inch, bronze cast of Rodin's "The Thinker".
"The Thinker" sits all day and contemplates. He is a thought collector. When someone touches him, he collects their thoughts. One day Laura touches him and he is given insight to the immediate things on her mind. Through her he sees and feels the towers collapse. The panic that ensues.
Buried in the rubble, he is found by a firefighter- Laura's husband. Through Laura's description of her workplace, he remembers "The Thinker" cast, and keeps it as a piece of her.
Ten years later, he still clings to the bronze statue, that weeps because all it can do is collect. It cannot help the broken man, but maybe someone else can.
A little background on this story. For those who don't know, one of the towers of the World Trade Centre had a 28-inch, bronze cast of 'The Thinker'. It was recovered from the rubble by a firefighter, then vanished. Even all these years later, the location of the missing cast is unknown.
These are six stories about the intricacies of the human mind. Our relationships with each other and the symbolism we find in the smallest things.
They are beautifully written, with prose-like characteristics and charm. Delightfully emotive, they will play bittersweet melodies on the heartstrings. There are jovial, lively bars and slow, mournful ones, with the entire book ending on a single, melancholy note.
There are a few abstract aspects to these stories, but I think that just adds to the atmosphere the author creates. Things are not always as they seem.
My favourites are probably "The Sculptor's Muse" for its originality and gorgeous description, and "The Thought Collector" for its insight into one man's sorrow and the unusual voice of the narrator.
A quick set of stories, that are very well-written and well worth a read.
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.… (meer)
The first, "The Sculptor's Muse" is the story of an artist enchanted by a singer. Red, black and white play a motif through this short and sweet story.
Inspiration comes in many forms and a muse can be a reciprocal thing.
In the second, "Blackberry and Apple Crumble", a young, married couple are hitting a few snags in their very new marriage. This causes a lot of tension. So when they discover that both their phones are missing, they are quick to blame each other. Can the Christmas spirit and some delicious treats bring back the spark?
This is a humorous little story that defines the saying, "You are what you eat."
Thirdly, there is "The Jigsaw Fairy". Dan ran away from home in the middle of the night three years ago when he was sixteen. His parents were overly critical and unsupportive, so he just packed up and left. One Christmas Eve, he left a jigsaw puzzle on their doorstop. Now he's breaking into the house to finish it for them. He's certainly planning on leaving his mark.
Next is "The Blight of Blossom". An old woman looks out over a cherry orchard and reminisces about how the human race fell, leaving a few survivors to rebuild on the moon. They live in a biodome where everything is controlled. She remembers what life was like before the end came, and what's come since.
Loneliness has many forms.
In the penultimate story, "Flutter to a Fall" we meet eighteen-year-old Tilly and her friend, Izzy. Returning from a week at Glastonbury, the two girls are staying at Izzy's house (well, castle. A huge castle) with the rest of her family. On the night they arrive, Tilly spots an owl. The family react very oddly to this news.
Every castle has its ghosts. People are complex. Sometimes, you have to see the signs.
The last story is "The Thought Collector", and is based on real events. When the World Trade Center stood before 9/11, one of them held a 28-inch, bronze cast of Rodin's "The Thinker".
"The Thinker" sits all day and contemplates. He is a thought collector. When someone touches him, he collects their thoughts. One day Laura touches him and he is given insight to the immediate things on her mind. Through her he sees and feels the towers collapse. The panic that ensues.
Buried in the rubble, he is found by a firefighter- Laura's husband. Through Laura's description of her workplace, he remembers "The Thinker" cast, and keeps it as a piece of her.
Ten years later, he still clings to the bronze statue, that weeps because all it can do is collect. It cannot help the broken man, but maybe someone else can.
A little background on this story. For those who don't know, one of the towers of the World Trade Centre had a 28-inch, bronze cast of 'The Thinker'. It was recovered from the rubble by a firefighter, then vanished. Even all these years later, the location of the missing cast is unknown.
These are six stories about the intricacies of the human mind. Our relationships with each other and the symbolism we find in the smallest things.
They are beautifully written, with prose-like characteristics and charm. Delightfully emotive, they will play bittersweet melodies on the heartstrings. There are jovial, lively bars and slow, mournful ones, with the entire book ending on a single, melancholy note.
There are a few abstract aspects to these stories, but I think that just adds to the atmosphere the author creates. Things are not always as they seem.
My favourites are probably "The Sculptor's Muse" for its originality and gorgeous description, and "The Thought Collector" for its insight into one man's sorrow and the unusual voice of the narrator.
A quick set of stories, that are very well-written and well worth a read.
Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own.… (meer)
Statistieken
- Werken
- 3
- Leden
- 33
- Populariteit
- #421,955
- Waardering
- 4.4
- Besprekingen
- 5
- ISBNs
- 9
The situation these people find themselves in, their yacht attacked by Somali pirates, is a situation I think anyone would agree is a nightmare. The thing that makes it even more frightening, is it's realistic, and not entirely fictional. This situation could very easily be based on a true story, and for a lot of the book, I wondered very seriously as to whether it was inspired by a true story. The hell and pain this crew are forced to endure is difficult to read about, but at the same time, connects you to such a solid story, and a real life issue, it's hard to ignore or dislike.
Helen Beal is now one of the best writers I've come across. Her ability to put this situation into a book for people to casually read, while touching you and making such a sad situation known, was wonderful to experience. She is honest, raw, real, and doesn't fluff things to avoid unpleasant or unhappy thoughts. While reading this book, you feel as if you're on the Talisman, not only feeling the days tick by in suspended life, but feeling the weight and pressure of being held captive, wondering what the future will look like.
Overall, I have to say, I did enjoy this book, and I really enjoyed the ending. Ms. Beal drew out emotions in me I don't often feel, and the fact she wrote something I had to put down and walk away from, is impressive. She is a very good writer, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys realistic fiction, and doesn't mind books with pain and graphic honesty.
*I was given an eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.… (meer)