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Ouve-me
Punishment has a Voice.
Joana and Gonçalo are married. But their marriage is far from perfect.
The tragedy of their daughter’s death has pushed them apart, to the point that they can barely communicate.
Yet Joana and Gonçalo are still married.
Then the Voice appears, a voice that only Gonçalo seems to hear. Convinced their dead daughter is reaching out to him from beyond, Gonçalo becomes obsessed with decoding the Voice's message.
An obsession that forces both of them to confront the real forces that keep them together, and what they truly felt about each other and their daughter.
And the truth behind the Voice will push them towards a fate they never wanted, and could never have guessed.
Joana and Gonçalo are married.
For now.
Joana and Gonçalo are married. But their marriage is far from perfect.
The tragedy of their daughter’s death has pushed them apart, to the point that they can barely communicate.
Yet Joana and Gonçalo are still married.
Then the Voice appears, a voice that only Gonçalo seems to hear. Convinced their dead daughter is reaching out to him from beyond, Gonçalo becomes obsessed with decoding the Voice's message.
An obsession that forces both of them to confront the real forces that keep them together, and what they truly felt about each other and their daughter.
And the truth behind the Voice will push them towards a fate they never wanted, and could never have guessed.
Joana and Gonçalo are married.
For now.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
49 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
152 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Luis Filipe Alves
10 books8 followersLuís Filipe Alves foi escritor toda a vida, mas só deu por isso em 2005. Mesmo assim, às vezes esquece-se.
Foi um dos pioneiros do podcasting nacional com o seu Armário das Calças, que apesar de ter continuado a existir enquanto blog após o final do podcast, foi finalmente encerrado no início de 2012, tendo no seu lugar surgido o site LuisFilipeAlves.com.
Foi cofundador do blog de microficção Palavras Contadas (http://contadas.blogs.sapo.pt), e faz parte da equipa do Outro Lado dos Comics (http://outroladodoscomics.blogspot.com), um blog de análise e notícias de banda desenhada, de onde ainda não foi corrido apesar de pouco contribuir.
É coautor do podcast Na Estrada (http://naestradapodcast.blogspot.com), embora o faça muito menos vezes do que desejaria.
Continua a escrever o Obviamente (http://obviamente.luisfilipealves.com), uma newsletter diária feita de observações óbvias, desabafos escusados, e pensamentos avulsos.
E o que quer que esteja a fazer neste preciso momento, devia parar, e escrever mais um bocadinho.
Foi um dos pioneiros do podcasting nacional com o seu Armário das Calças, que apesar de ter continuado a existir enquanto blog após o final do podcast, foi finalmente encerrado no início de 2012, tendo no seu lugar surgido o site LuisFilipeAlves.com.
Foi cofundador do blog de microficção Palavras Contadas (http://contadas.blogs.sapo.pt), e faz parte da equipa do Outro Lado dos Comics (http://outroladodoscomics.blogspot.com), um blog de análise e notícias de banda desenhada, de onde ainda não foi corrido apesar de pouco contribuir.
É coautor do podcast Na Estrada (http://naestradapodcast.blogspot.com), embora o faça muito menos vezes do que desejaria.
Continua a escrever o Obviamente (http://obviamente.luisfilipealves.com), uma newsletter diária feita de observações óbvias, desabafos escusados, e pensamentos avulsos.
E o que quer que esteja a fazer neste preciso momento, devia parar, e escrever mais um bocadinho.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 22, 2017
2.5 stars
The reader first meets Gonçalo and Joana Amaro at their daughter's funeral. It's clear the couple is having marital issues but it becomes even clearer as the story progresses on that the couple have been living separate lives for a while. Their daughter was the glue forcing them together and their problems originated way before her death.
This story is an Amazon freebie told from third-person with dual POVs. While I sort of liked watching Gonçalo's mental health deteriorate, the ending was lackluster and both main characters were mostly dull.
The reader first meets Gonçalo and Joana Amaro at their daughter's funeral. It's clear the couple is having marital issues but it becomes even clearer as the story progresses on that the couple have been living separate lives for a while. Their daughter was the glue forcing them together and their problems originated way before her death.
This story is an Amazon freebie told from third-person with dual POVs. While I sort of liked watching Gonçalo's mental health deteriorate, the ending was lackluster and both main characters were mostly dull.
December 11, 2018
Um e-book que encontrei grátis na store da Apple e decidi dar uma oportunidade. E que bela surpresa! Realmente valeu a pena ter lido este pequeno livro. Uma boa história, se tiverem oportunidade procurem por este e-book e leiam. Adorei a história, muito intensa e misteriosa. Gostava que esta pequena história fosse transformada numa grande história, porque realmente tem tudo para ser um êxito. Parabéns ao escritor, surpreendeu-me!
October 23, 2018
Hear Me
By Luis Filipe Alves
Genre - Fiction
Category - Psychological Thriller/Paranormal
Pages - 68
Publication Date - November 9, 2014
Format - Kindle
Rating - 📙📙📙
Hear Me by Luis Filipe Alves is the English Translation edition of the Portuguese Ouve-Me. There were some issues with the translation as far as wording, i.e. every time the word should have been “think” it appears as “thing”. This was a really good idea and I was along for the ride most of the read. However I’m a little confused by the ending. More explanation needs to be given to the reader because the end really leave me with more questions than answers. I did see this short story has mixed reviews, and I’m somewhere in the middle of those reviews. It wasn’t terrible, it was just okay for my liking. I would read other work by this author in the future. It may work for you if you decide to pick it up. It’s a fast read with only 68 pages, so it wasn’t a waste of time.But of course for me no book is a waste of time. I find something in everything I read.
From the back cover: Joana and Gonçalo are married. But their marriage is far from perfect.
The tragedy of their daughter’s death has pushed them apart, to the point that they can barely communicate.
Yet Joana and Gonçalo are still married.
Then the Voice appears, a voice that only Gonçalo seems to hear. Convinced their dead daughter is reaching out to him from beyond, Gonçalo becomes obsessed with decoding the Voice's message.
An obsession that forces both of them to confront the real forces that keep them together, and what they truly felt about each other and their daughter.
And the truth behind the Voice will push them towards a fate they never wanted, and could never have guessed.
Joana and Gonçalo are married.
For now.
About the author: Luís Filipe Alves has been a writer all his life, it just took him until 2005 to notice. And he still forgets occasionally.
He was one of the first podcasters in Portugal, with the weekly-ish music show Armário das Calças (which translates as The Pants Closet; don’t ask), a name he kept using with his blog long before the podcast closed doors. The blog itself was closed in early 2012, replaced by the portuguese version of LuisFilipeAlves.com.
Luís also co-founded the flash fiction blog Palavras Contadas (Counted Words), and was part of the team of Outro Lado dos Comics (The Other Side Of Comics), a comics news and analysis blog. He still hasn’t formally quit, but trust us, he doesn’t work there anymore.
His daily (portuguese language) newsletter Obviamente (Obviously) hasn’t missed a single weekday since it started in June 2012. Luís is justifiably proud of that, but less so of its actual content on most days. He’s since published the first year of it as a book. It looks good on his shelf.
He’s self-published six ebooks in portuguese, and intends to release at least as many in 2014, while also translating them all into english.
And whatever else he’s doing right now, he should stop it, and just write some more.
Other books by Luis Filipe Alves: Bloodgate: A Science Fiction Suspense Story, Stop Points.
By Luis Filipe Alves
Genre - Fiction
Category - Psychological Thriller/Paranormal
Pages - 68
Publication Date - November 9, 2014
Format - Kindle
Rating - 📙📙📙
Hear Me by Luis Filipe Alves is the English Translation edition of the Portuguese Ouve-Me. There were some issues with the translation as far as wording, i.e. every time the word should have been “think” it appears as “thing”. This was a really good idea and I was along for the ride most of the read. However I’m a little confused by the ending. More explanation needs to be given to the reader because the end really leave me with more questions than answers. I did see this short story has mixed reviews, and I’m somewhere in the middle of those reviews. It wasn’t terrible, it was just okay for my liking. I would read other work by this author in the future. It may work for you if you decide to pick it up. It’s a fast read with only 68 pages, so it wasn’t a waste of time.But of course for me no book is a waste of time. I find something in everything I read.
From the back cover: Joana and Gonçalo are married. But their marriage is far from perfect.
The tragedy of their daughter’s death has pushed them apart, to the point that they can barely communicate.
Yet Joana and Gonçalo are still married.
Then the Voice appears, a voice that only Gonçalo seems to hear. Convinced their dead daughter is reaching out to him from beyond, Gonçalo becomes obsessed with decoding the Voice's message.
An obsession that forces both of them to confront the real forces that keep them together, and what they truly felt about each other and their daughter.
And the truth behind the Voice will push them towards a fate they never wanted, and could never have guessed.
Joana and Gonçalo are married.
For now.
About the author: Luís Filipe Alves has been a writer all his life, it just took him until 2005 to notice. And he still forgets occasionally.
He was one of the first podcasters in Portugal, with the weekly-ish music show Armário das Calças (which translates as The Pants Closet; don’t ask), a name he kept using with his blog long before the podcast closed doors. The blog itself was closed in early 2012, replaced by the portuguese version of LuisFilipeAlves.com.
Luís also co-founded the flash fiction blog Palavras Contadas (Counted Words), and was part of the team of Outro Lado dos Comics (The Other Side Of Comics), a comics news and analysis blog. He still hasn’t formally quit, but trust us, he doesn’t work there anymore.
His daily (portuguese language) newsletter Obviamente (Obviously) hasn’t missed a single weekday since it started in June 2012. Luís is justifiably proud of that, but less so of its actual content on most days. He’s since published the first year of it as a book. It looks good on his shelf.
He’s self-published six ebooks in portuguese, and intends to release at least as many in 2014, while also translating them all into english.
And whatever else he’s doing right now, he should stop it, and just write some more.
Other books by Luis Filipe Alves: Bloodgate: A Science Fiction Suspense Story, Stop Points.
March 13, 2016
Meh
I was expecting so much more out this. I had hope.... And it died right in the last page along with him...
I was expecting so much more out this. I had hope.... And it died right in the last page along with him...
May 25, 2025
This was a mediocre domestic thriller. I thought it may have been going somewhere at one point but it just fizzled out. Would it have been better if it was longer? Only if the plot had more substance.
July 27, 2015
"Hear Me" is a great short story, whilst reading this I couldn't help myself to put into both of the character's shoes in turn, both dealing with grieve, pain and loss not only for the passing of their child but for their life together, their lack of communication and both are stuck in loveless relationship and do not seem to be able to live without each other. This is page turner and before you know it you're inside their mind and their house and try to listen to the Voice until it will end too soon.
April 7, 2015
Do you like Twilight Zone or Outer Limits?
Than this is a book you should try!
It is scary and similar to episodes I used to watch from The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits.
I really like this story because it's about relationships and how one can remain in one for the wrong reasons.
Add to that a supernatural phenomena, that causes more strain and more detachment.
Its a short story and I recommend it!
Than this is a book you should try!
It is scary and similar to episodes I used to watch from The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits.
I really like this story because it's about relationships and how one can remain in one for the wrong reasons.
Add to that a supernatural phenomena, that causes more strain and more detachment.
Its a short story and I recommend it!
September 10, 2015
I enjoyed this story but honestly it could have been much better. Just as I really got to know the characters and was really getting into the story it was over - just over! It seemed like the author just ended the story way too soon and way too quick. I had hoped for so much more. This story could have been exceptional if the author had put a little more work into it towards the end.
September 28, 2015
Great Book to read on a rainy day
I like horror and physiological thrillers movies and books. I just started reading different authors I love all James Patterson books but this author caught my attention I gave it 5 stars for a great story and fast reading I would recommend reading this book and hopefully all his others
I like horror and physiological thrillers movies and books. I just started reading different authors I love all James Patterson books but this author caught my attention I gave it 5 stars for a great story and fast reading I would recommend reading this book and hopefully all his others
September 5, 2015
This was an interesting take
But not at all what I expected. When I began to read it I thought it was going to be some sort of supernatural take about the daughter they had lost. But it turned out to be a story about two people who were miserable together.
But not at all what I expected. When I began to read it I thought it was going to be some sort of supernatural take about the daughter they had lost. But it turned out to be a story about two people who were miserable together.
May 30, 2016
Terrible
Along way to go as a writer of any interest. Just not a writer who can empathise or can draw color into a book. Simple. I found HEAR ME a waste of time. Sorry, Luis, just being honest.
Along way to go as a writer of any interest. Just not a writer who can empathise or can draw color into a book. Simple. I found HEAR ME a waste of time. Sorry, Luis, just being honest.
December 15, 2017
Meh.... This story fell flat. Not only were there so many writing errors it was hard to ignore, but the characters were weak and shallow at best and the story lacked emotion and direction. So much was left out that could have improved this book.
May 14, 2018
Endless Whining
The entire story was about a couple grieving for a lost child. That's valid and a reason to feel sorry for people. But to write a book about it? A book with zero plot and the most unlikable characters ever written? What was the author thinking?
The entire story was about a couple grieving for a lost child. That's valid and a reason to feel sorry for people. But to write a book about it? A book with zero plot and the most unlikable characters ever written? What was the author thinking?
June 8, 2019
This book leaves me confused and frustrated about what actually happened. Was the original voice their daughters? Was it his predicting his own death? Was interesting enough to finish the book, but left me aggravated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2015
Review to come shortly.
March 5, 2021
Encontrei este livro na secção de e-books grátis da Kobo e resolvi experimentar. Gostei muito da história e não me arrependo de a ter lido. No entanto, parece que o autor estava com pressa para a escrever e especialmente para acabar o livro, porque assim que o leitor começa a entrar no ritmo da história, esta acaba deixando muitas perguntas por responder.
A ideia por trás deste livro é realmente boa e cheia de potencial (principalmente para fãs de thrillers e terror), apenas gostava que tivesse sido melhor desenvolvida.
[I found this book on the free e-book section at Kobo e decided to try it. I liked the story slot and don't regret reading it. However, it feels like the author was in a hurry to write and especially to finish the book because as soon as the reader starts to get into the story, it ends leaving a lot of questions unanswered.
The idea behind this book is really good e full of potential (mainly for thriller and horror fans), I would just liked it to be better developed.]
A ideia por trás deste livro é realmente boa e cheia de potencial (principalmente para fãs de thrillers e terror), apenas gostava que tivesse sido melhor desenvolvida.
[I found this book on the free e-book section at Kobo e decided to try it. I liked the story slot and don't regret reading it. However, it feels like the author was in a hurry to write and especially to finish the book because as soon as the reader starts to get into the story, it ends leaving a lot of questions unanswered.
The idea behind this book is really good e full of potential (mainly for thriller and horror fans), I would just liked it to be better developed.]
July 11, 2022
Uma pequena e interessante história sobre perda e como as relações podem ser complicadas.
No entanto, tinha bastante a ganhar se fosse mais desenvolvida. Não consegui entrar plenamente na estória, na medida em que senti que não conheci o suficiente as personagens.
No entanto, tinha bastante a ganhar se fosse mais desenvolvida. Não consegui entrar plenamente na estória, na medida em que senti que não conheci o suficiente as personagens.
November 3, 2020
4🌟
Meu Deus! Que história mais uau, o Gonçalo culpa a sua mulher Joana da morte da filha e ele passado algum tempo começa a ouvir uma voz que só ele ouve e pensa que a filha, o casamento não tem mais volta, a mulher como é fraca não sai de casa.
Será que saí mesmo assim? Será que a filha fala mesmo com o Gonçalo para confirmar a teoria dele ou ele está mesmo maluco?
Terão de ler para saber, descobri ao acaso no Kobo e decidi ler porque quero ler mais autores portugueses mas é uma história pequena não deve ter mais do 90 e poucas páginas.
Meu Deus! Que história mais uau, o Gonçalo culpa a sua mulher Joana da morte da filha e ele passado algum tempo começa a ouvir uma voz que só ele ouve e pensa que a filha, o casamento não tem mais volta, a mulher como é fraca não sai de casa.
Será que saí mesmo assim? Será que a filha fala mesmo com o Gonçalo para confirmar a teoria dele ou ele está mesmo maluco?
Terão de ler para saber, descobri ao acaso no Kobo e decidi ler porque quero ler mais autores portugueses mas é uma história pequena não deve ter mais do 90 e poucas páginas.
February 21, 2022
i found this randomly in the books app for free and it caught my attention. it’s a portuguese thriller short story. i had zero expectations towards this book because unfortunately i’m not someone that reads a lot of literatura lusófona (i really want to change that) so i wasn’t familiar with author but it was great! “ouve-me” touches on grief and domestic violence in its several forms, a very real issue in portuguese culture.
i’m seeing a lot of negative reviews on this from english speakers and i assume it was because the translation wasn’t the best. it’s unfortunate.
i’m seeing a lot of negative reviews on this from english speakers and i assume it was because the translation wasn’t the best. it’s unfortunate.
April 19, 2022
Confusing
As much as I love psychological thrillers, I'm not sure about this one. The story was interesting, but the ending made absolutely no sense. I would not recommend this book at all. As for the author, I'd have to read something else by him before I can comment
However, with the way this book ended, I'm not sure I would want to.
As much as I love psychological thrillers, I'm not sure about this one. The story was interesting, but the ending made absolutely no sense. I would not recommend this book at all. As for the author, I'd have to read something else by him before I can comment
However, with the way this book ended, I'm not sure I would want to.
April 30, 2020
Good read
I chose this rating because there should be more to the book. I liked the story tho. It had a good story line.
I chose this rating because there should be more to the book. I liked the story tho. It had a good story line.
December 13, 2022
Para ser sincera, não entendi nada do livro......
March 10, 2017
Whatever....
I expected a little better. What happened to their child? Yes, she died, she got sick, but what happened? Not enough information in this story for me..
I expected a little better. What happened to their child? Yes, she died, she got sick, but what happened? Not enough information in this story for me..
April 8, 2016
i love alves' writing style and choice of story-line. his characters are realistic and the situations don't stretch credibility. yes, it's a ghost story of sorts, but even paranormal stories need to stay within the realm of nonfiction when it comes to things like conversations, relationships, and so on.
the main characters are a married couple who have lost their daughter, and their drift toward insanity is a reasonable response to grief. alves peers into their heads and gives us both sides of their growing recognition of a conflict that has been slowly festering since the day they met. i like that he attempts to be "real" in that sense. alves is one of the new breed of writers who is moving away from the standard zombie/werewolf/vampire pap that has a shelf-life of, at best, another 10 years. his spookiness derives from who we are as people and how we get to be who we are.
alves attempts to tell more truth through fiction than can be found in nonfiction. as an example, alves writes from the husband's perspective about his wife: "You're weak, Joana. You need someone to live for, and I happened to be there. But that's not love, that's weakness." this insistence on honestly portraying people sets apart the very few writers who we can expect to be remembered for more than a decade. the bleakness of the preceding comment on his wife and the parallel comment on the husband's own life gave me goosebumps. nothing went thump in the night, and yet i got creeped out by the author's connection with and portrayal of people; of simple, real people.
i look forward to reading more from him and hope other authors begin to follow his path.
the main characters are a married couple who have lost their daughter, and their drift toward insanity is a reasonable response to grief. alves peers into their heads and gives us both sides of their growing recognition of a conflict that has been slowly festering since the day they met. i like that he attempts to be "real" in that sense. alves is one of the new breed of writers who is moving away from the standard zombie/werewolf/vampire pap that has a shelf-life of, at best, another 10 years. his spookiness derives from who we are as people and how we get to be who we are.
alves attempts to tell more truth through fiction than can be found in nonfiction. as an example, alves writes from the husband's perspective about his wife: "You're weak, Joana. You need someone to live for, and I happened to be there. But that's not love, that's weakness." this insistence on honestly portraying people sets apart the very few writers who we can expect to be remembered for more than a decade. the bleakness of the preceding comment on his wife and the parallel comment on the husband's own life gave me goosebumps. nothing went thump in the night, and yet i got creeped out by the author's connection with and portrayal of people; of simple, real people.
i look forward to reading more from him and hope other authors begin to follow his path.
August 7, 2016
Hear Me
Not a bad read. Good way to pass some time. A little thriller I suppose but if your looking for an edge of your seat thriller this is not it. This would be great for a teen.
Not a bad read. Good way to pass some time. A little thriller I suppose but if your looking for an edge of your seat thriller this is not it. This would be great for a teen.
December 18, 2015
Good short story - weirded me out with how obsessive the husband became. Finished the story feeling really sorry for both of them.
October 19, 2015
It was okay. It was suspenseful trying to figure out what the voice was. I think there could have been a lot more to the book. I honestly didn't quite understand the end.
January 9, 2016
Unrelatable
I really couldn't connect with it on any level. I'm not saying it was bad or unreadable just that there's a lack of connection.
I really couldn't connect with it on any level. I'm not saying it was bad or unreadable just that there's a lack of connection.
June 1, 2016
Wow!
Pretty good... Have to admit the ending was like a sudden road block with no warning signs... Looking forward to more from thus author.
Pretty good... Have to admit the ending was like a sudden road block with no warning signs... Looking forward to more from thus author.
September 14, 2016
That's it
The character was weak, the story lacked so much. Don't know where to start,, No recommendations. No more to say
The character was weak, the story lacked so much. Don't know where to start,, No recommendations. No more to say
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews