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Remote Control
In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control, a novelette by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, delivers a strong Be careful what you wish for! *Finalist in 2008 Textnovel Writing Contest*
Nook
First published June 28, 2010
4 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
29 books383 followershttp://www.cherylktardif.com
http://www.whalesongbook.com
http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com
Contact Cheryl: cherylktardif at shaw.ca
I am an avid reader and an international bestselling suspense author. My novels are often cross-genre works that fall into the categories of suspense, mystery or thriller.
My books have been compared to works by Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kidd, J.D. Robb, Kay Hooper, James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Michael Crichton.
I am always asked that one question: "Cheryl, what do you do?"
My reply: "I kill people off for a living." ;) CKT
http://www.whalesongbook.com
http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com
Contact Cheryl: cherylktardif at shaw.ca
I am an avid reader and an international bestselling suspense author. My novels are often cross-genre works that fall into the categories of suspense, mystery or thriller.
My books have been compared to works by Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kidd, J.D. Robb, Kay Hooper, James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Michael Crichton.
I am always asked that one question: "Cheryl, what do you do?"
My reply: "I kill people off for a living." ;) CKT
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 11, 2023
DNF. Not really my kind of book.
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May 16, 2011
This is a down'n'dirty novella that pulls you in fast and leaves you trying to keep a ten-foot pole between you and the main character. This is a good thing. :) Cheryl Kaye Tardif has done a fantastic job of characterizing both Harold and his wife, Bea. If you have a lunch-break or just need a quick read before you call it quits for the night... I definitely recommend this short.
It's the first piece I've read by her, but I'll be looking for more very shortly. :)
It's the first piece I've read by her, but I'll be looking for more very shortly. :)
December 21, 2013
This rating is based solely on personal taste. It wasn't ill written....it was even kind of fun to read something set in the city I live in. But I just don't enjoy reading books with unlikeable characters, so it just didn't work for me. I found myself skimming b/c I was curious where it was going, but just didn't want to read about horrible Harry anymore.
October 26, 2011
Shorty book based on the cliche "Be careful what you wish for". I wish I hadn't wasted an hour of my day.
November 8, 2011
Like a step into the Twilight Zone, be careful what you wish for! This novelette is sure to please the afficionado of the old television shows, especially Twilight Zone, the story is atmospheric. Even the feel is grainy black and white. Cheryl Kaye Tardif never disappoints with the quality and depth of her writing, whether full-length, novelette, short story or part of an anthology, she is consistently exploring the mind. Well-written, gripping, and with a moral buried within, Remote Control is sure to warn and entertain.
Take a lazy, very fat man who spends all his time wishing his way to a rosy future, then picture an over-worked long-suffering wife. Who would guess that these two were the football jock and the class valedictorian in college? What happened to them? She works at two jobs and still can't afford to pay all the bills and keep him fed. He is a plumber, and could have been very good at it, but no. He is so fat, so lazy, and so glued to the TV with his hand gripping the remote, that he has lost his ambition. Not enough money to pay the bills? He just tries to talk his wife into working longer hours or take on a third job. He is convinced that if he wishes long and hard enough, he will be rich. He "knows" that it is happening soon. In the meantime, he lives in his imaginary world of TV and wishes, while his wife tries to make ends meet and wonders where everything went wrong. She wishes, too; wishes that things could be as they were. Is there a turning point? Ah, if I delve into it too far, I'll give the ending away.
Once again Cheryl Tardif has taken us away from our comfort zone to find that we enjoy being there. Once begun, the reader is compelled to find out what happens, thereby reading and watching all the way through, driven by the story to the outcome, thinking about wishes we've made. A brilliant and fitting ending, I am now going to be careful what I wish for, much as I might think I really want it. A well-metered story, picking up pace as it goes along, an impressive writing style.
Take a lazy, very fat man who spends all his time wishing his way to a rosy future, then picture an over-worked long-suffering wife. Who would guess that these two were the football jock and the class valedictorian in college? What happened to them? She works at two jobs and still can't afford to pay all the bills and keep him fed. He is a plumber, and could have been very good at it, but no. He is so fat, so lazy, and so glued to the TV with his hand gripping the remote, that he has lost his ambition. Not enough money to pay the bills? He just tries to talk his wife into working longer hours or take on a third job. He is convinced that if he wishes long and hard enough, he will be rich. He "knows" that it is happening soon. In the meantime, he lives in his imaginary world of TV and wishes, while his wife tries to make ends meet and wonders where everything went wrong. She wishes, too; wishes that things could be as they were. Is there a turning point? Ah, if I delve into it too far, I'll give the ending away.
Once again Cheryl Tardif has taken us away from our comfort zone to find that we enjoy being there. Once begun, the reader is compelled to find out what happens, thereby reading and watching all the way through, driven by the story to the outcome, thinking about wishes we've made. A brilliant and fitting ending, I am now going to be careful what I wish for, much as I might think I really want it. A well-metered story, picking up pace as it goes along, an impressive writing style.
July 26, 2011
Remote Control
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif (Goodreads Author)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control, a novelette by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, delivers a strong message: Be careful what you wish for! *Finalist in 2008 Textnovel Writing Contest* "
This was a very quick, short read that consists of about thirty-seven pages according to my ereader. The story is very well written, thought provoking, and dare I say at times disturbing. I found myself stopping and examining my behaviors and wishes, being afraid of what I would discover. I would recommend this read to anyone wanting a very quick, well written, thought provoking read. I have given this three stars only because of the brevity of the story and my personal preference is generally for a longer read that will allow me more time to become emotionally invested in the characters. I will read and look forward to reading other works by this author.
by Cheryl Kaye Tardif (Goodreads Author)
Synopsis from Goodreads:
"In this dark, suspenseful and somewhat comical look at one man's desires, Remote Control, a novelette by bestselling author Cheryl Kaye Tardif, delivers a strong message: Be careful what you wish for! *Finalist in 2008 Textnovel Writing Contest* "
This was a very quick, short read that consists of about thirty-seven pages according to my ereader. The story is very well written, thought provoking, and dare I say at times disturbing. I found myself stopping and examining my behaviors and wishes, being afraid of what I would discover. I would recommend this read to anyone wanting a very quick, well written, thought provoking read. I have given this three stars only because of the brevity of the story and my personal preference is generally for a longer read that will allow me more time to become emotionally invested in the characters. I will read and look forward to reading other works by this author.
Read
April 20, 2011Eerie to read a detective story set in Sendai now, during the earthquake aftermath, but this 2007 thriller by Kotaro Isaka, "Remote Control" trans. Stephen Synder, 「ゴルデン・スランバー」 伊坂幸太郎作, is, so far, a great read. The Japanese title, "Golden Slumbers," is from the Beatles' song, much like Haruki Murakami used "Norwegian Wood" in his monumental 1987 novel. Isaka is apparently compared to Murakami--making him a must-read for me! Not sure how to work out the Beatles influence on these two novels, 20 years apart, but for the moment, 343 pages of delight are coming up. Trivia: wish they'd identified the font they used--new to me and delightful! More as I read on....
Fascinating book--one foot in Kennedy assassination, one foot in sci-fi, both feet in camp of importance of people to one another. I loved it! Even with clunky things which I think were not clunky in Japanese.
Fascinating book--one foot in Kennedy assassination, one foot in sci-fi, both feet in camp of importance of people to one another. I loved it! Even with clunky things which I think were not clunky in Japanese.
July 28, 2010
If you like some of Stephen King's quirky short stories or twilight zone episodes, you will really enjoy this short story from Cheryl Kaye Tardif. It will definitely put a smile on your face. I look forward to Cheryl's new book of similar short stories, entitled "Skeletons in the Closet and other creepy stories".
October 25, 2010
I bought this book on a whim, knowing it was really short, but I had loved the other two books I had read by this author. Oh my, is this one totally different from those books! The good news is that it is very much like something Stephen King would write. It was awesome!
May 21, 2011
Great short story. Typical male... though I did feel sorry for him.
June 9, 2011
Most enjoyable and very well written.
August 18, 2011
super funny! quick read and makes ya think watch what you wish for!
September 21, 2011
This is just a short story, but it was fun to read.
April 17, 2015
A rather dated concept, but still does well at warning you not to spend your life in front of the TV disappointing your other half.
March 15, 2012
Haven't I seen this on Twilight Zone or something?
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews