Scan barcode
alma220's review
Too much cursing and vulgarities, making the whole reading unpleasant for me...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Cursing
morgiemoo's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kath61's review
5.0
I loved this book despite the almost unbearable thread of poignancy running throughout. So beautifully written and the characters so sensitively drawn with warmth and magic. Very original too.
chrissireads's review
4.0
I was a massive fan of Keith Stuart’s debut novel A Boy Made Of Blocks. I thought it was absolutely sensational, so when I noticed his second novel up for grabs on NetGalley, I just had to go for it. I really enjoy Keith Stuart’s writing. He’s clearly a very talented writer because Days Of Wonder is another brilliant novel. It’s emotional and heart-warming at the same time. Days Of Wonder is narrated by Tom and his daughter Hannah. They take alternate chapters. I absolutely loved this narration!
Tom is a single father devoted to his daughter Hannah and his job as theatre manager. Hannah was diagnosed with a serious heart condition when she was younger. She’s now fifteen and mature beyond her young years. The story starts after Hannah’s diagnosis at five. For her fifth birthday, an amateur dramatic group put on a fairy tale for her outside her window. This leads to a tradition of a fairy tale for every birthday that follows. Days of Wonder follows Tom and Hannah through tough times. Hannah’s desperate for her father to have someone by his side when she leaves him. 😦 It’s heart-breaking!
Keith Stuart really has a way of making me feel for the characters. I immediately adored Tom and Hannah, however, there are so many other brilliant characters in this story. There was an older lady named Margaret who Hannah was very close to. I loved her anecdotes and how she would talk to Hannah about anything… including death. Hannah’s friends were lovable as well. They were always there for her. Hannah is a very special girl, she realises that her life is so fragile and doesn’t want to plan for the future, instead she puts her energy into ensuring her father is looked out for. I loved how she was desperate for her father to be happy.
I knew this book was going to be emotional, but I didn’t expect to be as invested in the story as I was. I loved seeing Hannah grow as a character and her father grew too. He learnt to be less overprotective despite his child’s life being so fragile. It may seem like a really depressing story, but I think its sweetness and the way it really makes you feel grateful for everything that you have really makes the book reach new heights.
Tom is a single father devoted to his daughter Hannah and his job as theatre manager. Hannah was diagnosed with a serious heart condition when she was younger. She’s now fifteen and mature beyond her young years. The story starts after Hannah’s diagnosis at five. For her fifth birthday, an amateur dramatic group put on a fairy tale for her outside her window. This leads to a tradition of a fairy tale for every birthday that follows. Days of Wonder follows Tom and Hannah through tough times. Hannah’s desperate for her father to have someone by his side when she leaves him. 😦 It’s heart-breaking!
Keith Stuart really has a way of making me feel for the characters. I immediately adored Tom and Hannah, however, there are so many other brilliant characters in this story. There was an older lady named Margaret who Hannah was very close to. I loved her anecdotes and how she would talk to Hannah about anything… including death. Hannah’s friends were lovable as well. They were always there for her. Hannah is a very special girl, she realises that her life is so fragile and doesn’t want to plan for the future, instead she puts her energy into ensuring her father is looked out for. I loved how she was desperate for her father to be happy.
I knew this book was going to be emotional, but I didn’t expect to be as invested in the story as I was. I loved seeing Hannah grow as a character and her father grew too. He learnt to be less overprotective despite his child’s life being so fragile. It may seem like a really depressing story, but I think its sweetness and the way it really makes you feel grateful for everything that you have really makes the book reach new heights.
zoediane's review
4.0
I finished Days of Wonder last night (early hours this morning), I could not put it down! It was a wonderful, sad, yet uplifting story and I loved it! I cried, I laughed, I could not put the book down I needed to know how it ended. A wonderful story that will most likely have you in tears.
ruthie_the_librarian's review
4.0
I lurched towards the end of this book in the garden centre cafe, trying not to sob over my slice of caramel shortcake & coffee and failing miserably. It was one of those mind-grabbing reads, where all the characters began to feel very quickly like friends, and I didn't just want to know what would happen, I needed to know.
Although there is a lot of sadness within the story, there's also so much humour and love that it doesn't feel overwhelming, or too hard to read. And there is also, importantly, a wonderful sense of magic throughout. I was involved in various different drama performances and plays throughout my childhood, so I identified a lot with the ideas and themes being discussed. It brought back lots of happy memories. I loved the relationship between Hannah and her dad - even when it isn't working all that well, it's really well written, and felt very realistic.
There were a couple of reasons that this ended up being a 4 star review, rather than a 5 star review for me: the ending - I didn't need that final conclusion, and I would have felt happier without it, however much I knew what was ultimately to come for Hannah. I also wasn't entirely happy with the conversations between Hannah's parents...the will they/won't they felt a little jumbled at times, and I was never quite sure how I was supposed to feel about Hannah's mum (I didn't like her, but I think I was supposed to forgive her...but I didn't!) But apart from this, it's a really great book.
With thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Although there is a lot of sadness within the story, there's also so much humour and love that it doesn't feel overwhelming, or too hard to read. And there is also, importantly, a wonderful sense of magic throughout. I was involved in various different drama performances and plays throughout my childhood, so I identified a lot with the ideas and themes being discussed. It brought back lots of happy memories. I loved the relationship between Hannah and her dad - even when it isn't working all that well, it's really well written, and felt very realistic.
There were a couple of reasons that this ended up being a 4 star review, rather than a 5 star review for me: the ending - I didn't need that final conclusion, and I would have felt happier without it, however much I knew what was ultimately to come for Hannah. I also wasn't entirely happy with the conversations between Hannah's parents...the will they/won't they felt a little jumbled at times, and I was never quite sure how I was supposed to feel about Hannah's mum (I didn't like her, but I think I was supposed to forgive her...but I didn't!) But apart from this, it's a really great book.
With thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
bibliobethreads's review
4.0
First of all, a huge thank you to Clara Diaz and Sphere Publishers for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I first came across Keith Stuart when I read his incredible debut novel, A Boy Made Of Blocks which completely captured my heart. So, it's safe to say not only was I stupidly excited when I received my copy of Days Of Wonder but my expectations for the novel were astronomically high. Luckily, I was in no way disappointed. Keith Stuart writes with passion and intelligence but most importantly of all, with real heart and this novel was a touching, beautifully realised piece of contemporary fiction with an emotional edge that had me laughing and tearing up in equal measure.
This novel explores the special relationship between single dad, Tom and his fifteen year old daughter, Hannah. His wife and Hannah's mother, Elizabeth left when her daughter was quite young and since then, it has been them against the world. This is particularly poignant when Hannah begins to get ill and heart-breakingly, is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. In other words, her heart just isn't strong enough to pump blood around her body. The cold, hard reality of this condition is that she could die at any time and more recently, her normal, teenage exertions have caused her to black out, indicating that she could be getting worse. Tom, manager of the local Willow Tree Theatre, has been trying to keep her spirits up ever since she was diagnosed, by introducing her to the theatre and encouraging the troupe of actors he employs to put on small plays for her each year on her birthday - these he calls "days of wonder." The rest of the narrative follows Hannah and Tom as they struggle with her condition and the potential closure of the place that they love the best. They learn the importance of leaning on their friends within and out of the theatre and explores the beautiful bond between father and daughter as they deal with the terrifying situation where they never know whether one day may be her last.
Oh my goodness, this book. It was so moving and brilliantly written, by the end I felt as if I knew all the characters intimately, as if they were in my own life. Keith Stuart expertly blends the happy and devastating moments of Hannah's life with wonderful, laugh-out-loud humour and painful, gut-wrenching moments so that one moment you can be smiling and by the next page you're horribly upset. My favourite part of the whole novel has to be the characterisation which is simply fantastic but in particular, that father-daughter relationship between Tom and Hannah which filled me with a sort of aching longing for a relationship I sadly have not experienced myself. Besides this, there are multiple other characters, like fiesty pensioner Margaret and their close friends at the theatre: Sally, Ted and James amongst others who are all beautifully drawn and all feel startlingly authentic. Additionally, all these characters have their own problems in their lives, for example, Callum's struggles with mental illness, Sally and Ted's independent marital issues, James' private and internal battle with his own feelings..... I could go on.
Told in alternate chapters between both Hannah and Tom's point of view, this is a stunning story of a father and daughter who forge a stronger and more meaningful relationship through their tough times. It highlights the importance of family and friends and the magical consequences of fighting for something you desperately believe in. As the saying goes - read it and weep. I certainly did.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
This novel explores the special relationship between single dad, Tom and his fifteen year old daughter, Hannah. His wife and Hannah's mother, Elizabeth left when her daughter was quite young and since then, it has been them against the world. This is particularly poignant when Hannah begins to get ill and heart-breakingly, is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. In other words, her heart just isn't strong enough to pump blood around her body. The cold, hard reality of this condition is that she could die at any time and more recently, her normal, teenage exertions have caused her to black out, indicating that she could be getting worse. Tom, manager of the local Willow Tree Theatre, has been trying to keep her spirits up ever since she was diagnosed, by introducing her to the theatre and encouraging the troupe of actors he employs to put on small plays for her each year on her birthday - these he calls "days of wonder." The rest of the narrative follows Hannah and Tom as they struggle with her condition and the potential closure of the place that they love the best. They learn the importance of leaning on their friends within and out of the theatre and explores the beautiful bond between father and daughter as they deal with the terrifying situation where they never know whether one day may be her last.
Oh my goodness, this book. It was so moving and brilliantly written, by the end I felt as if I knew all the characters intimately, as if they were in my own life. Keith Stuart expertly blends the happy and devastating moments of Hannah's life with wonderful, laugh-out-loud humour and painful, gut-wrenching moments so that one moment you can be smiling and by the next page you're horribly upset. My favourite part of the whole novel has to be the characterisation which is simply fantastic but in particular, that father-daughter relationship between Tom and Hannah which filled me with a sort of aching longing for a relationship I sadly have not experienced myself. Besides this, there are multiple other characters, like fiesty pensioner Margaret and their close friends at the theatre: Sally, Ted and James amongst others who are all beautifully drawn and all feel startlingly authentic. Additionally, all these characters have their own problems in their lives, for example, Callum's struggles with mental illness, Sally and Ted's independent marital issues, James' private and internal battle with his own feelings..... I could go on.
Told in alternate chapters between both Hannah and Tom's point of view, this is a stunning story of a father and daughter who forge a stronger and more meaningful relationship through their tough times. It highlights the importance of family and friends and the magical consequences of fighting for something you desperately believe in. As the saying goes - read it and weep. I certainly did.
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
lydiagrace1999's review
4.0
Along with the general consensus on this book, I found Days Of Wonder to be beautifully written, with a diverse cast of characters who each had something that made them likeable. It delves sensitively into child illness, and the pressure of a single dad of dealing with that alone, while keeping his business afloat.
The only reason in which I didn't give this 5 stars was because of the way in which relationships turned out in the end. There were snippets in the novel where I thought Tom would end up with Sally, and Hannah would end up falling for Jay. The way Stuart was hinting, I really thought it would end up that way (especially when Tom and Sally held hands while leaving the graveyard). It definitely seems as if Stuart changed his mind halfway through the novel.
If you like a feel-good story with underlying tones of tear-jerking moments, this novel is definitely for you. I also feel this novel personifies an almost blueprint for a film.
The only reason in which I didn't give this 5 stars was because of the way in which relationships turned out in the end. There were snippets in the novel where I thought Tom would end up with Sally, and Hannah would end up falling for Jay. The way Stuart was hinting, I really thought it would end up that way (especially when Tom and Sally held hands while leaving the graveyard). It definitely seems as if Stuart changed his mind halfway through the novel.
If you like a feel-good story with underlying tones of tear-jerking moments, this novel is definitely for you. I also feel this novel personifies an almost blueprint for a film.
leona_omahony's review
3.0
Having read and absolutely loving A Boy made of blocks, I was super excited to have the privilege to read and review this one. Whilst it started out really well I found it sagged a bit in the middle and it was lacking something. I can’t exactly put my finger on it but to me the story was quite drawn out at times. A 3.5 star read for me