Caroline Smailes

Picked this up after accidentally getting Kindle Unlimited and looking for anything interesting. I could imagine in a better mood I'd rate this 3 - it's certainly not *bad* but I didn't really find any standouts and there are a few very cliched/eyerolly ones. The conceit of being inspired by music can be kind of weird because it means some stories make very little sense without reference to the music, some are basically retellings of the lyrics, some have pretty much no connection at all. Nothing much to say, because all the stories are less than a page long it's a pretty fast read and nothing's too bad but it's not worth picking up especially.… (meer)

Having read Caroline Smailes' work before, I knew not to expect a typical fluffy Christmas story when I started The Unwrapping of Theodora Quirke. What this is is a quirky (no pun intended) yet heart-warming story of a young woman who has lost everything she loves and who finds a way to live again.

Theo is 19 and already has suffered so much loss and upheaval in her life so when St Nick turns up on her doorstep she's understandably sceptical. Here's where it gets unusual, a little bit bonkers, and really rather lovely. St Nick is out to save her and even if she doesn't think she needs it, the journey ahead is destined to change her life.

I loved the way Smailes brought Theo and St Nick to life in such a glorious fashion. The book is set in Liverpool and there's a very down to earth feel about it that is characteristic of that city. It's also full of dry humour which had me smiling a lot. St Nick is quite a character and the descriptions of what he was wearing (or not, as was often the case) and his dubious cleanliness was fantastic and so funny.

I don't know how the author came up with such an original idea for a story but coupled with her trademark brilliant and sweary voice it makes for a winning combination.

This is a great book for this time of year as Christmas approaches, and if you like something that isn't saccharine but is still a feel-good story then look no further. It was an absolute pleasure to spend a couple of days in the company of Theo and St Nick in a world of miracles, the unexpected, friendship, loss and love.… (meer)

A Rousing and Engaging Modern Fairytale
The character Arthur Braxton blooms when he is treated with tenderness. Love is the key, and first love is always special, but to a boy like Arthur, it is also a rare commodity. Swept into an imaginative world covered in green tile and mosaic, shined upon through colored glass mermaids, Arthur finally learns what it is to be happy. He finally learns to swim in this life, but like all great tragedies, he was not meant for this world.
A rousing story engaged with convincing characters, and real life mindsets. The sad truths of abuse and neglect, and the blind eye attitude towards it, are illustrated in this story. The destructive certainties of bullying and the vulnerability of fitting in are also mingled into the story and examined through Arthur’s POV. Arthur finds a world of magical spirits, only seen to the chosen few, who dare to hear the song.
Dark shadows underscore his future, a modern day Hans Christian Anderson type story. Unlike the very last ending of the Little Mermaid Tale, where children were scared into behaving, Arthur in the end is accepted for who he is, an imperfect boy who just wanted to find love. Bravo Caroline Smailes!
… (meer)