B.A. Spicer

Tragedy Born of Broken Bonds and Unquestioning Love

What I Did Not Say is a story of a complex web of interpersonal relationships and the tragedy that can arise when even one of these bonds is destroyed.

The book is written in three parts. The first is nearly two-thirds of the total and establishes the primary characters and the relationships among them: Jessica (Jess) and Jack, 11 and 12 at the outset; Vera and Terry, Jack’s mother (or mum to be true to the book) and her long-standing friend; and Jack and Vera, mother and son. These individuals and their relationships are admirably described. Of the group, they all felt real, with the possible exception of Jack, who ended up seeming as highly steadfast as he was completely irrational. Overall, Part 1 seemed unnecessarily detailed and somewhat slow, with most of the suspense stemming from misunderstandings or characters deciding to be less than forthcoming, sometimes with little apparent reason.

Part 2 was the trial, where the pace and tension were excellent. The pages seemed to turn themselves. Each of the barristers argued their side of the case eloquently, leaving me guessing as to the eventual outcome.

Part 3 is the delivery of a package some 15 years later. By this part, the overall outcome is known, although questions of motivation remain. And this is where the conceptualization I had developed of Jack in Part 1 ran afoul. I was not quite able to reconcile the way he was portrayed at the beginning with what is implied at the end. But then, perhaps I am reading these implications incorrectly.

The author is an excellent writer, as the prose is descriptive and evocative. At first, having each chapter told as first person from a new character’s perspective seemed strained, but as the chapter title is the name of the speaker, it became more comfortable over time. There is also an occasional abrupt shift in timeframe within a chapter, as a flashback or forward is interspersed without warning. These were somewhat disruptive of the overall story flow for me.

Overall, if you like stories of complex emotional relationships and tragedy that can arise when these fragile bonds are broken, What I Did Not Say should meet your interests nicely.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.… (altro)

Astrophysicist Madeleine Happer is convinced that her nightly dreams are trying to tell her something. She isn't quite sure what is going to happen, but the frequency and vividness of each dream seems to indicate whatever happens - it will be momentous. Yet Maddy is certain - deep within herself - that in some indefinable way, the earth will be intrinsically changed.

Now, teetering on the brink of her own personal scientific discovery - one which could potentially prove monumental in the field of astrophysics - Maddy must make everyone understand that they all need to be prepared for what is coming. But is it possible that, even now, she may be too late? Only the universe can say for certain; yet it appears that the universe has suddenly become...mute.

I must that I really enjoyed reading this particular story. I found that the plot was remarkably well-developed for its length; and I appreciated that even at eighteen pages long, the story was unusual and filled with several unexpected plot twists. I give this book an A!… (altro)

Valerie absolutely loves her Grandma's stories. From funny to scary and every genre in between, to little Valerie's mind Grandma is the best storyteller ever. She can transport the little girl to anywhere her imagination desires, simply by telling one of her wonderful stories. And the best part of all is that the star of every story is Valerie herself.

However, sometimes the line between reality and fantasy can become very blurry. So, when something momentous happens to them, will Valerie be able to tell her story. And, most importantly, will anyone believe her?

I really enjoyed this story very much and I give it an A! I must say that Valerie reminded me so much of myself. When I was little my Grandpa was the one who used to tell me stories; although in my opinion, his stories were never quite as scary as one of Valerie's Grandma's stories. And just like Valerie, I was always the star of my Grandpa's stories.

The stories that my Grandpa told me usually involved my name (of course), and a giant bag of sweets - any sort of candy that might have been my favorite at the time - for myself, and to share with anyone else I might meet during the course of the story.… (altro)

For Flora James' mother, the grief and sorrow of her daughter's death is already immeasurable; yet learning that Flora died due to bullying at school sparks an unquenchable rage in her heart towards Flora's tormentors. Flora had so many dreams and desires for her future - she was preparing to go on a class trip to France soon and wanted so badly to see the Eiffel Tower while she was there. She loved nature and space, and knew so much about the planets and constellations. It is just inconceivable to her mother to think that her beautiful Flora is no longer here; not when her daughter had so much more life left to live.

These cruel children must be made to understand the gravity of what they have done. To her, and most of all, to Flora. Especially this Tanya girl - Flora's main bully. Tanya must learn her lesson - and it will be a difficult one for her to teach - but for Flora's sake, her mother will do whatever is necessary.

This is the first book that I've read by this author - although at 26 pages, it would be better classified as a short story. However, B. A. Spicer has also written several longer novels as well. I must say that I really enjoyed reading this story; I found the plot gripping and totally believable. I could certainly imagine this scenario occurring in reality. I give this story a definite A!… (altro)