Scan barcode
hannahhbic's review against another edition
2.0
Flighty, whimsical, and a bit scattered. I wouldn't recommend it.
mstapel's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written story that was well developed until the end. I was disappointed and let without resolution, but it was good while it lasted!
littletaiko's review against another edition
3.0
The Coffins of Little Hope was a pleasant read. The story of an octogenarian obituary writer in a small town, a missing girl, and anticipation for the final book in a YA series. It combines these stories to show the power of the press as well as the decline of small town papers. It is also a tale of family and aging with overall realistic characters. It is also one of those books that doesn't try to tie up all loose ends and lets the reader come to their own conclusion.
carolpk's review against another edition
3.0
I first read about this on the Indie Next list for May, probably like most of you. I hadn't ever read anything by Timothy Schaffert but the story sounded interesting. It's about 83 year old Essie Myles who has written obits for her father's newspaper since she was a teen. It is this and much more. Initially I found myself losing the rhythm and pace of the story but then realized this was due to reading a paragraph or two and then leaving the book as work and other demands interfered. I picked it up once again today and read it straight through. I’m glad I did. I would have done myself and the book a disservice if I had not given The Coffins of Little Hope my undivided attention.
Besides the story-line of Essie's obituary writing there is the story of a young girl gone missing. This is not quite like any other missing persons story you might have read and definitely does not make the book a mystery. The missing girl provides the catalyst to keep Essie's father's paper afloat, now in the hands of her grandson Doc and is a central piece to the book's uniqness. Schaffert writes beautifully and I found myself frequently wanting to jot down passages as I read. Strong story and strong, quirky characters, especially the aging Essie and her great-granddaughter Tiff make for a bittersweet, tragic, and yet compassionate and even funny at times narration.
I found the gap between my age and Essie's closing as she describes the aging around her, trying to keep her own mortality and thoughts of impending doom at bay. Though Essie proclaims she will not be one of those people brought to her hole in the ground kicking and screaming and will bow out gracefully, letting someone else take the reins to write the obituaries, don't believe it for a minute. She is one feisty lady with a lot of living left to do.
Somewhere between a 3 & a 4 star for me.
Besides the story-line of Essie's obituary writing there is the story of a young girl gone missing. This is not quite like any other missing persons story you might have read and definitely does not make the book a mystery. The missing girl provides the catalyst to keep Essie's father's paper afloat, now in the hands of her grandson Doc and is a central piece to the book's uniqness. Schaffert writes beautifully and I found myself frequently wanting to jot down passages as I read. Strong story and strong, quirky characters, especially the aging Essie and her great-granddaughter Tiff make for a bittersweet, tragic, and yet compassionate and even funny at times narration.
I found the gap between my age and Essie's closing as she describes the aging around her, trying to keep her own mortality and thoughts of impending doom at bay. Though Essie proclaims she will not be one of those people brought to her hole in the ground kicking and screaming and will bow out gracefully, letting someone else take the reins to write the obituaries, don't believe it for a minute. She is one feisty lady with a lot of living left to do.
Somewhere between a 3 & a 4 star for me.
mehitabels's review against another edition
5.0
if I've ever read a book that sounded like my voice before, I couldn't name it. all have been forgotten in the delight and sweet irascible voice the Schaffert has created. I adored this book, there is no great mystery or romance or drama, but it is a quiet book about a quiet town full of people who breath and live and strive for individuality.
just lovely.
just lovely.
coreymcameron's review
4.0
Great book, loved the characters and the plot line. A little too short, but overall very good!
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
3.0
A nice little enjoyable read....not as engrossing as The Help, but very similar. The writer has a nice style and the story was interesting and meaningful. A pleasant way to spend the half an hour before bed.
beth_diiorio's review against another edition
1.0
I was interested, then I wasn't, interested again, then not. I'm going to put this one aside for a while and maybe try it again later. Onto something different.
amberhayward's review against another edition
4.0
I’d been wanting to read this for so long. I’d read a short story by this author (“The Mermaid in the Tree”) and really, really loved it so I had incredibly high expectations for this book. I have apparently given it 4 stars but, writing this a year and a half later, I have almost no recollection of reading it and less of a recollection of liking it. This is almost entirely my fault for having chosen “One Week Postpartum” as the perfect time to read this. I’m sure it’s great!
cleah's review against another edition
3.0
Essie Myles has been writing obituaries for her small town newspaper every since graduating from the eighth grade. Now at age 83, she has written hundreds of obituaries and has even made a little bit of a name for herself among other obit writers. This also means she knows who everyone in town is and where they came from. Including Daisy, a lonely woman who made local history when she reported her daughter Lenore kidnapped. It has been years since the investigation ended, but a few cult followers (and Daisy) still believe she is alive and waiting to be found. More skeptical residents aren't yet convinced she ever existed at all. When Essie is approached to finally write Lenore's obituary, she navigates through an old story where fact and fiction are often confused.
I felt like I enjoyed this book, but am not really sure why. I wasn't excited to get back to reading it, but whenever I picked it up I would like what I read. The ending did not provide any closure and left me with an end-of-the-book void. I was drawn to Essie's calm and factual tone of voice. And I loved the way she told the events of the story, as if she were sitting next to me, sipping tea on the couch. All of the characters had delightful little quirks, pleasantly humorous and fun to read. When all is said and done, I am not sure I would pick up another of Schaffert's books, but this one was a good read.
I felt like I enjoyed this book, but am not really sure why. I wasn't excited to get back to reading it, but whenever I picked it up I would like what I read. The ending did not provide any closure and left me with an end-of-the-book void. I was drawn to Essie's calm and factual tone of voice. And I loved the way she told the events of the story, as if she were sitting next to me, sipping tea on the couch. All of the characters had delightful little quirks, pleasantly humorous and fun to read. When all is said and done, I am not sure I would pick up another of Schaffert's books, but this one was a good read.