I know, you're not supposed to judge books by their covers. But publishers need to quit false advertising their books too. You put a smiling girl in a rainbow shirt on the cover? Excuse me for expecting a smiling girl in a rainbow shirt inside the cover.

When there's a disconnect between the cover and the book, I usually feel a disconnect with the book itself. A Straight Line to My Heart, with that gorgeous cover and cutesy title and main character named Tiff, started off in line with my expectat More...

A Straight Line To My Heart is a cute, little book.

It's a snapshot of a week of Tiff's life, right after she graduates. She lives in Gungee Creek - a place where nothing ever happens - together with her foster father, Reggie, and her foster brother, Bull. For the foreseeable future, Tiff is going to start a sort of internship at a local newspaper, hoping it will lead to a cadetship and then to a proper job.
But it's not so much what happens in this book that really matters because truly, you mig More...

While I wish A Straight Line to My Heart was a little longer, it was perfect in its own way and utterly adorable. Seriously, don't let it's simplistic cover fool you - it's a novel that is deep in its subtlety, beautiful in its originality, and heart-wrenching in its happiness. I'm glad I took the time to savor this quick read - not to mention underline half the phrases in it! - and I know this is one I'll be thrusting upon others because it is just that good.

Although a small book, A Straigh More...

So check it. This is how it is in Australia, apparently. There is ONE school where all the writers go and learn how to write the most heartfelt, realistic stories of the human element. Seriously, authors like, Melina Marchetta, Fiona Wood, Leanne Hall, Cath Crowley...etcetera...etcetera...Well, I just found out that Bill Condon also went to the same school! Imagine that. And you know what? I soooo could tell he went to the same school. His story telling style kind of follows the same formula as More...

4.5 stars

“If you can’t get a boy, get a book, that’s my motto.”

(Believe me, the ‘meta’-ness of me using this quote is definitely not lost on me!)

From the very opening lines, Tiff’s voice is clear and distinct, flowing beautifully on the pages as she relates the events of Bill Condon’s heart-warming novel. I loved her as a narrator: she’s astute, self-deprecating, funny. With simple, succinct turns of phrase, her story is poignant, full of heart and humour. Tiff’s observations were so familiar a More...

Definitely more towards three and a half stars, but not quite four. Lovely, quirky characters and a story line that just followed the every day life of Tiff, journalist-to-be. I might not have been in the perfect mood for this, but it was still a good read.

“There's nothing quite as good as folding up into a book and shutting the world outside. If I pick the right one I can be beautiful, or fall in love, or live happily ever after. Maybe even all three.”

4.5 stars.

What an opening line! I knew this book was going to be a good one.

Let me just say, first up - I love the cover of this one! It's simple and pretty and indented. When you hold the cover, the writing feels as if it's been punched with a Typewriter. Just a little quirk. Something unique.

Our More...

There are a few films that you know, the minute the first frames have appeared on the screen, that you are going to love. There are some books, a few, that the first few sentences ... well, you know what I am going to say, and Bill Condon's latest is one of them. I was wearing a smile almost all the time I was reading, except when I was stifling a sob.

What a beautifully observed novel. It is told through the voice of Tiff(any) who has been swept up in the unconditional love of Bull and Reggie e More...

I want to write a review of this book, truly I do, but all I keep doing is singing "Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins and thinking about Aussie contemporary YA lit. "When I'm feeling blue, all I have to do, is take a look aaaaat you, then I'm not sooo blue." That's where I stop singing, lest this turn into some sort of awkwardly sexual booklove situation. It is true that Aussie YA books and I have a groovy kind of love, though. Raw Blue, The Piper's Son, A Little Wanting Song, Six Impossible More...

Tif is a weird kid, she has only one friend and lives with Reggie, kinda her grandfather, and with Bull, two very peculiar guys. Tif does not feel special, she knows it and knows little about her story, but she´s a strong girl and even when there are obstacles she deals with them.
We get to know her more with every page we read, she´s clever, she´s funny and she´s a character you can really connect with, or at least I did.
A Straight Line to My Heart was a great book. With really cool characters, More...

I've been wanting to read this book for a while.

It is certainly a lovely, light read, but I felt that there was something lacking.

The premise of this story is great, but I think it could have been executed much, much better through deeper character development and perhaps a more intriguing plot. Clearly, this book is more character-based rather than plot-based, but even so I felt that the plot really needed something more. It basically revolved around things such as problems with her best friend More...

Bill Condon is one my absolute favourite writers and it's been a while since i read his work, so i was really looking forward to this one. i've been a bit dissappointed in his recent work, to be honest. this one too, also falls short of my favourite Condon books. on a scale from Daredevils and No Worries to Give Me Truth, it luckily falls further away from Give Me Truth, which for me was a terrible book. (so much that i can't remember what happened in it.) Maybe it's a little closer to Dogs and More...

This has so many great reviews, 4 and 5 stars all around it seems, so I almost feel bad rating it a 3.5.
Yes, it was cute. I adore the cover. I adore Reggie. But, something fell a little flat for me.

1. Maybe it was the whole Davey thing? He just swoops in and seems like he is going to be involved in the story, but he only makes brief appearances. I don't have to have a huge Love story, but I needed just a bit more.

2. The whole news-paper/shark thing. I didn't mind her getting the job or talking More...

Nothing ever happens in Gungee Creek. Take it from someone who knows; Tiff has lived here almost her whole life, ever since her mum died and her aunt sent her to live with family friends, Reggie and Nell and Nell’s son, Bull. And Tiff can confirm that nothing ever happens in Gungee. Not since Nell died and Tiff was left to be raised by the boof-heads, Bull and Reggie. And not since Tiff befriended the pretty new girl in school, Kayla.

Since then it’s been a whole lot of local rugby games, bingo n More...

Bill Condon writes wryly moving novels that speak to the heart of family and the teenage experience. His previous novels have dealt with dysfunctional families, naive Catholic adolescents in the 50s, unusual blended families, and hard things to talk about like family violence and grief.
In A Straight Line to my Heart, Tiff lives with Reggie and Bull. The kindness of strangers has saved the younger Tiff from an orphanage. Reggie’s family are friends of Tiff’s aunt, who is unable to care for the li More...

As seen on my blog:



But..but wait hold on..you're just going to end THERE? This book should have gone on for another 30 pages. My heart needed it to-it was thoroughly enjoying itself. A Straight Line to My Heart was wholesome, that's the word I'm going to use: wholesome. It fed my heart and my mind some warm, and nourishing things. I'm so glad I randomly came across this one.

Living in the tiny town of Gungee Creek, Tiffany has just finished high school, and is on the verge of taking the next ste More...

This book was funny, real and entertaining.... no wonder it was nominated for Children's Book Week award in Australia http://cbca.org.au/shortlist_2012.htm

I liked the main character. She seemed very real and the issues she was going through mirror that of people in similar situations in real life. The time between finishing school and starting adult life is a big change for everyone and in a small country town, as such in this book, it means teens need to face the fact that they and a lot of the More...

I love how Condon writes, the fluidity of his chapters of his dialogue.
I love the topic of the book, and the clever way the cover and the blurb present the story.

However, I did not enjoy the book.
The plot never developed conflict. Everything resolved itself within seconds of being introduced, which didn't make for alluring reading. You knew what happened a little too soon, and a little bit too nicely. The book started out good, but soon there were too many characters and too many plot lines, and More...

Awesomely Aussie is how I would describe it. It’s heartfelt, completely down-to earth and a great coming of age story.

I had heard about A Straight Line to my Heart, and read good reviews about it. It was on my to-read list, but I wasn’t urgent to read it, but when I came across it in a bookstore, I picked it up and decided to buy it. And I am so very glad I did.

Top notch Characters. I loved them all. Real and enjoyable to read about. I also liked that the author introduced the characters slowly More...

A Straight Line To My Heart was a quirky, fun and an all round charming read. This book was so tremendously Aussie that I simply could not wipe the grin off my face the entire time I was reading it.

I loved every single character Condon presented me with. Tiff was wonderful; she was an absolutely fantastic main character who provided me with endlessly hilarious commentary. As well as loving Tiff I also adored the entire cast of friends and family who accompany Tiff in this eccentric coming of ag More...

I chose to read "A straight line to my Heart" by Bill Condon, because it
seemed like an interesting book, because it follows the life of a teenage
girl, which I can relate to. I enjoy reading books that I can relate to
because it makes it more personal and I feel more connected to the story.

This novel is about a young girl called Tiff who lives with a foster family. She has just finished high school and is about to start her first internship at a newspaper journalism place. Her passion is writing a More...

I had just finished Bill Condon’s upcoming book “A Straight Line to My Heart”, the story of Tiff, and Davey, Reggy, Bull and Kayla. Bill Condon has a way of writing about character that couldn’t be further from my experience or areas of interest. Yet somehow he writes in a way that so eloquently captures the essence of growing up, that I found myself nearly moved to tears on a tram full of strangers. The words in this book are sparing, but every one has an honesty behind it that makes the story More...

I had just finished Bill Condon’s upcoming book “A Straight Line to My Heart”, the story of Tiff, and Davey, Reggy, Bull and Kayla. Bill Condon has a way of writing about character that couldn’t be further from my experience or areas of interest. Yet somehow he writes in a way that so eloquently captures the essence of growing up, that I found myself nearly moved to tears on a tram full of strangers. The words in this book are sparing, but every one has an honesty behind it that makes the story More...

A Straight Line To My Heart by Bill Condon is a heartfelt novel about the life of a real life teen, Tiffany's. From the first sentence I knew I would love this book. The main character Tiffany is exactly like me, we relate on many things. She's quirky, friendly, shy and a mega bookworm (just like myself.) Every single character in the book was expressed very well and it makes it feel like they are your own friends/family. What disappointed me was the end of the book, It felt incomplete. I was re More...

This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

A Straight Line To My Heart is a distinctly Australian coming-of-age story.

Tiff describes herself best as plain. She lives with elderly and tough Reggie and Bull, his son; neither are related to her. Apart from her odd living situation, she leads a fairly unremarkable life. That, however, changes dramatically over the summer after high school finishes forever for her.

Tiff will deal with the loss of loved ones, find new loved ones, puzzle o More...

Not sure what I expected from this book, but it was an OK read. I liked the characters, but maybe I've reading too much YA lately and expected more action...

Loved the portrayal of Tiff's family. Thought the introduction of a love interest Davey was clumsy - but hey, maybe that's real life!

Reggie was adorable and sensitive - even though he was no pushover. And even Tiff's relationship with her stepbrother Bull was pretty special, as was her developing relationship with his girlfriend, Zoe.

So, I g More...

Tiff has had a hard start in life, but along the line she got lucky. Taken in by Reggie, a family friend, she joins the household, which is completed by Bull (Reggie's stepson) and their gorgeous dog Wolfie.

Theirs is a family of choice, their love displayed by comfortable silence, affectionate hugs and teasing banter. At its heart there's something very special - an ever present compassion and the firm understanding that imperfect people can love perfectly.

Tiff's coming of age story, her first h More...

This book reminded me a little of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl - it's not quite as refined but seems to be built upon a similar kind of optimistic good will. Tiffany is an independent, kind-hearted girl who has just finished her final year of school. Her character has a beautiful simplicity that makes her seem younger, not quite naive but endearingly uncomplicated as though she hasn't been tarnished by life.

She has an unusual family setting: when her mother passed away her aunt couldn't look after More...

Probably more of a 2.5 for me. This book is one of the quickest and simplest books ever. I read it, I finished and I still can't exactly decide what to say about it because it wasn't very eventful. I don't have enough thoughts about it to write a full review about it so I'll just mention a few things I liked and others I didn't.

Some of the things I liked are:

- The main character. Tiffany was cute and down to earth and a very normal and realistic character.
- Tiff's relationship with her family. More...