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Wind Up Hearts
If one's heart is constructed of metal and considered indestructible, can love and romance still find a place within? That is the question facing Henry Thackery who spends over a hundred years pursuing the woman of his dreams - Emily Harding. After Henry and Emily become recipients of the Merganthol Circulatory Assistance Device, we follow their journey from 1875 to the present day and Henry's unflinching quest to convince Emily (the love of his life) to become his bride. Will Henry be successful in his pursuit of love or will Emily ultimately "break" his indestructible heart? A tale of romance more than science fiction, The Wind-Up Heart will tug at the strings of your heart whether it be mechanical or made of muscle and tissue.
- GenresSteampunk
72 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 17, 2014
Wind Up Hearts This little novella made me think of all the books I've read where authors have gone to great lengths using elaborate set-ups, OTT situations & endless descriptions of body parts trying to convince the reader their characters are experiencing a once in a lifetime kind of love.
In 60 pages, this author has delivered an elegant, beautiful & moving love story that is the real deal. No torrid sex, no graphic language, no games. Just a simple premise.
We first meet Henry Thackery & Emily Harding in present day as he joins her for their weekly date in the park. Both are well over 100 years old, courtesy of the mechanical hearts they received in 1875. Every meeting is the same. They talk, have lunch & wind each other's heart.
Interspersed are flashbacks to previous meetings from their first, then every 25 years or so as their lives change & the relationship deepens. We watch as they fall in love, learn each other's secrets & comment on the progress around them.
Henry goes from a driven businessman in his 20's to a grey haired man with a cane whose memory is starting to fail. But he still remembers the beautiful young widow who caught his eye even though she's now a great grandmother.
At first, you're intrigued by the story behind their wind up hearts. Then you just enjoy their time together. The dialogue is funny & touching as it can only be between two people who share a thousand memories. And the ending....well, no spoilers here.
Do yourself a favour & give this a try. If you don't have a lump in our throat when you're finished, perhaps your own heart needs a little work.
In 60 pages, this author has delivered an elegant, beautiful & moving love story that is the real deal. No torrid sex, no graphic language, no games. Just a simple premise.
We first meet Henry Thackery & Emily Harding in present day as he joins her for their weekly date in the park. Both are well over 100 years old, courtesy of the mechanical hearts they received in 1875. Every meeting is the same. They talk, have lunch & wind each other's heart.
Interspersed are flashbacks to previous meetings from their first, then every 25 years or so as their lives change & the relationship deepens. We watch as they fall in love, learn each other's secrets & comment on the progress around them.
Henry goes from a driven businessman in his 20's to a grey haired man with a cane whose memory is starting to fail. But he still remembers the beautiful young widow who caught his eye even though she's now a great grandmother.
At first, you're intrigued by the story behind their wind up hearts. Then you just enjoy their time together. The dialogue is funny & touching as it can only be between two people who share a thousand memories. And the ending....well, no spoilers here.
Do yourself a favour & give this a try. If you don't have a lump in our throat when you're finished, perhaps your own heart needs a little work.
February 15, 2014
Reading short stories is becoming one of my favourite moments of the week. They are like a small but expensive bottle of perfume. They may seem to be a quick read, but sometimes they linger in the senses because of their powerful ingredients. Wind-up Hearts is such a neat little treasure.
A sad, but beautiful story about two people who love each other for over a century. How long can love, and life, endure? Henry and Emily are connected through a miraculous medical intervention that has substituted their failing hearts with a mechanical device. They meet every week at the park where they talk and share their lives in a unique way. As time goes by, little secrets come up and they discover each other through a platonic but utterly passionate relationship.
Oh, how enchanting this story has been for me. It made me smile and laugh and cry helplessly. Poignant and poetic, it reads as a true homage to love. It delivers the sweet sorrow of craving for something unattainable that never fades because it was never really consummated.
The author alternates scenes from 1875 to present day, so the events don't exactly go in a near fashion. In a chapter, there are hints to what happened in the past between Emily and Henry, and then we unravel the emotional mystery in following scenes. That makes for a more engaging and intense experience.
I loved the elegant and witty banter that the characters keep in their weekly rendezvous at the park, how they happily tease each other and then how deeply their feelings run. The author is really great at mixing the light-hearted side with the tragedy that lines both characters' lives.
One of my favourite quotes is this one:
"Thieves are after things like gold and silver. People don't go around stealing hearts.
I disagree, my lady. For you have certainly stolen mine."
In the end, it left me with the lingering impression that sometimes feelings are as indestructible as mechanical hearts.
A sad, but beautiful story about two people who love each other for over a century. How long can love, and life, endure? Henry and Emily are connected through a miraculous medical intervention that has substituted their failing hearts with a mechanical device. They meet every week at the park where they talk and share their lives in a unique way. As time goes by, little secrets come up and they discover each other through a platonic but utterly passionate relationship.
Oh, how enchanting this story has been for me. It made me smile and laugh and cry helplessly. Poignant and poetic, it reads as a true homage to love. It delivers the sweet sorrow of craving for something unattainable that never fades because it was never really consummated.
The author alternates scenes from 1875 to present day, so the events don't exactly go in a near fashion. In a chapter, there are hints to what happened in the past between Emily and Henry, and then we unravel the emotional mystery in following scenes. That makes for a more engaging and intense experience.
I loved the elegant and witty banter that the characters keep in their weekly rendezvous at the park, how they happily tease each other and then how deeply their feelings run. The author is really great at mixing the light-hearted side with the tragedy that lines both characters' lives.
One of my favourite quotes is this one:
"Thieves are after things like gold and silver. People don't go around stealing hearts.
I disagree, my lady. For you have certainly stolen mine."
In the end, it left me with the lingering impression that sometimes feelings are as indestructible as mechanical hearts.
March 10, 2014
How to express that a small book with a soulful history, has made the mechanics of my heart was captivated by with Henry Thackery and Emily Harding, saying that I've added the book to my favorites of 2014.
Well, despite the fact that the story is short, which could be one of its charms is the perfect mix of feelings and moments where the reader goes what may or may not be love.
Henry and Emily Merganthol were became recipients of the Circulatory Assistance Device, in short have a mechanical heart, and the two begin to share moments together since 1875 and the present, and we as readers jump from one point to another of Henry's hand, either remembering or telling the present moment, about her feelings for Emily and how life takes care to show everyone what it means to live, giving their tastes, emotions and fears, your search and especially the reason that, although either a mechanical heart, your heart beats for her.
Why became my favorite? I get emotional, I am filled with sadness and tenderness at a time, in a few pages, I found a beautiful story, without the need for it to twist or constantly changing, was direct, clear and the way sad or not, makes you think. This little beauties is one that you should keep in mind, and not let through. Maybe this review is small, but particularly I don't would like to fill it with spoilers, the charm of this book is discover it, let than some of his phrases make you laugh, sometime doubt, or in the time required to make you mourn.
How to enjoy this gem? Disgusted with a cake of your choice and a cappuccino.
BLOG: ALL THINGS IN THE CLOUD SWEET
Well, despite the fact that the story is short, which could be one of its charms is the perfect mix of feelings and moments where the reader goes what may or may not be love.
Henry and Emily Merganthol were became recipients of the Circulatory Assistance Device, in short have a mechanical heart, and the two begin to share moments together since 1875 and the present, and we as readers jump from one point to another of Henry's hand, either remembering or telling the present moment, about her feelings for Emily and how life takes care to show everyone what it means to live, giving their tastes, emotions and fears, your search and especially the reason that, although either a mechanical heart, your heart beats for her.
Why became my favorite? I get emotional, I am filled with sadness and tenderness at a time, in a few pages, I found a beautiful story, without the need for it to twist or constantly changing, was direct, clear and the way sad or not, makes you think. This little beauties is one that you should keep in mind, and not let through. Maybe this review is small, but particularly I don't would like to fill it with spoilers, the charm of this book is discover it, let than some of his phrases make you laugh, sometime doubt, or in the time required to make you mourn.
How to enjoy this gem? Disgusted with a cake of your choice and a cappuccino.
BLOG: ALL THINGS IN THE CLOUD SWEET
August 9, 2014
Aww... This novella is so sweet and so sad. It is the beautifully written tale of two friends, the very best of friends, who meet once a week to have lunch, talk about their lives, and wind up their clockwork hearts. The same as they have done every week for more than a hundred years. This is the sort of idea that I wish I had thought of first, just because I like it so much.
I am a die-hard romantic with steampunk tendencies, so it was almost inevitable that I fall in love with this story. Add word-perfect writing and I was hooked. There isn't a whole lot I can say about the story without spoiling anything because it was so short. It's a quiet story, made up of conversations between not-quite-lovers as they watch the world go by. It was a joy to watch their relationship unfold. But don't take my word for it. Read it yourself. Maybe cry a little at the end, just like I did.
I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I am a die-hard romantic with steampunk tendencies, so it was almost inevitable that I fall in love with this story. Add word-perfect writing and I was hooked. There isn't a whole lot I can say about the story without spoiling anything because it was so short. It's a quiet story, made up of conversations between not-quite-lovers as they watch the world go by. It was a joy to watch their relationship unfold. But don't take my word for it. Read it yourself. Maybe cry a little at the end, just like I did.
I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 5, 2014
This is a great book for those that believe in one true love, and reincarnation. Do you always love the same soul over and over no matter what body that soul is currently hosted in?
Those questions are exactly what this book is about. It's a unique love story between Emily and Henry. Henry always remembers Emily. However Emily does not always seem to remember Henry. It must be so hard, and sad for Henry.
This was a quick book since it's only around 48 pages long.
I'm a sucker for love stories. I love to read all kinds of love stories. This one is unique though.
Those questions are exactly what this book is about. It's a unique love story between Emily and Henry. Henry always remembers Emily. However Emily does not always seem to remember Henry. It must be so hard, and sad for Henry.
This was a quick book since it's only around 48 pages long.
I'm a sucker for love stories. I love to read all kinds of love stories. This one is unique though.
November 15, 2016
Ah man, what a well written and intriguing novella.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I loved the concept and the style of writing. Amazing how attached to characters you can get in only 60 pages.
Bit of mixed emotions at the end of the day.
You get a real sense of the love they share for one another, but you can't help but to resent the fact that they ended up wasting a portion of their lives (and long lives they were) just because of inherent believes/feelings.
Anyway, great book!
Read as part of the Curiosity Quills: Chronology Anthology.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. I loved the concept and the style of writing. Amazing how attached to characters you can get in only 60 pages.
Bit of mixed emotions at the end of the day.
You get a real sense of the love they share for one another, but you can't help but to resent the fact that they ended up wasting a portion of their lives (and long lives they were) just because of inherent believes/feelings.
Anyway, great book!
Read as part of the Curiosity Quills: Chronology Anthology.
December 29, 2014
Henry and Emily’s love story is as complicated as the mechanical devices that replaced their hearts. But the gears and cogs aren't keeping Henry alive, it's his genuine devotion and love for Emily. Holding the key to someone's heart will forever have a new meaning.
Wind-Up Hearts is a perfectly paced and well-written story. But be warned, it will leave a mark on yours.
Wind-Up Hearts is a perfectly paced and well-written story. But be warned, it will leave a mark on yours.
August 11, 2016
This is the tale of Henry and Emily and how they’ve fallen in love over and over throughout the twentieth century. In only 60 pages, Stan Swanson packs an amazing amount of emotional storytelling, along with an intriguing sci-fi angle behind their mechanical hearts. This unique, beautiful love story that will melt your own heart (windup or not) long after you’ve turned the pages.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews