Life Shattered Videos
Reviews Of Life Shattered
I loved how the story came full circle
By Everydayadventure15, Online Book Club Jun 15, 2022
Reluctant to reveal his intelligence, Delbert Pillage barely passes each
grade. Yet, the skinny farm boy continues to be bullied by his peers
despite his attempts to remain invisible. The gorgeous Sylvia Cairns
secretly admires her tormented classmate but is too shy to stand up for
him.
As Delbert and Sylvia begin their high school years, they finally have
a chance to reveal their feelings for each other. But just as their
relationship has a chance to blossom, a dedicated and well-respected
math teacher discovers Delbert's intelligence. Delbert's unique way of
thinking and his exceptional memory have the potential to take him far
when he is offered an early start in the engineering program at the
university. However, the further he's pulled into his studies, the less
time he has for Sylvia. When an unthinkable tragedy occurs, Sylvia turns
to a Sisterhood of nuns who protect her right to privacy and refuse to
share her location. Despite his attempts to reach out to her, Delbert's
letters remain unanswered. As his own life takes a tragic turn, will
Delbert ever have a chance to reunite with the woman he loves?
Take the plunge into the emotional tale of Delbert and Sylvia in Life
Shattered by Sandy Graham. While the book had a bit of a slow start,
I appreciated how the author detailed the years of torment endured by
Delbert. I found myself wanting to defend him from his vicious peers,
and like his mother, I eagerly believed in his ability to succeed. It
was easy to cheer for him as he began to step out and pursue his dreams
at the university, and I loved the intriguing projects he worked on with
his professors and colleagues. The author explained the technical details
in an easy-to-understand manner, keeping Delbert's contributions interesting
and exciting. Watching his transformation into a mature young man was
fascinating. I also enjoyed his dedication to solving several intricate
calculations for engineering problems that had stumped other professors
and students.
The ending was my favorite part of the novel. I loved how the story came full
circle, and I adored how much Delbert's status had changed in the end.
There were some heart-wrenching moments in the final chapters, but
Delbert remained a calm and admirable hero.
Sylvia's character was the part of the story that I liked the least.
I felt she lacked any personality, and her descriptions focused only
on her beauty. Characters described her as "angelic" and referred to
her as a "goddess." Even the Catholic priests couldn't help make remarks
about how desirable she was. The number of times men lusted after her or
made cat-calls got a bit old even though few chapters featured Sylvia
because the story's main focus remained on Delbert.
The weakness of Sylvia's character, which significantly diminished the
romantic aspect of the story, reduced my enjoyment enough to lower the
rating to three out of four. This young adult novel featured mild sexual
content and occasional mild swearing. I would recommend this story to
those who enjoy tales of overcoming adversity, romance, and aircraft
technology. Delbert's education involved projects with experimental
aircraft that were interesting and exciting. While this book is the
first in a three-book series about Delbert, readers can enjoy this
novel as a stand-alone story.
Reviews While Titled Two Loves Lost
Really liked this book!
By Liz December 28, 2020
Really liked this book! This was a nicely paced story of the maturing
of a quiet bullied Canadian boy into a kind, loyal and accomplished
young man. I really didn't understand much of the word translation
technology or the aviation information but it really didn't matter.
What was conveyed was the genius and the passion that he had. Delbert
was such a sympathetic character that I was devastated by his injury.
All characters around him (but especially Sylvia and Bentwing) are
engaging characters as well. It's an uplifting book that left me wanting
to read more of his story.
A good read!
By S. Stone August 9, 2020
First of all, I would like to thank Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to
win, enjoy and review this book. The reason I gave it a 3 rather than a 4 was
all of the technical and scientific information included. I had trouble
understanding the physics and the logistics. The story of a couple, seemingly
in love forever, until life separates them. Delbert has a brilliant mind,
breezes through college and the pilot training for the Air Force, and goes on
to ...remainder outlines the story plot and is removed as a spoiler
alert.
Excellent Work
By Csimplot Simplot May 20, 2020
Excellent work!!!
Five stars
By Mary May 1, 2020
Enjoyed the storyline and read
Good story with excellent research
By John October 2, 2017
I worked with the author years ago and know his engineering expertise first hand. This knowledge is a
very important part of the book. He has developed really likeable characters and combined a love story
with a credible engineering project that Delbert worked at UBC followed by his flight training and test
pilot experience on the Arrow. Having had a career in aerospace both as a pilot and engineer, I really
enjoyed the book and also recommend the second book in the series which has also has a
great message.
Great Book
By ER September 3, 2017
Very heart warming story. Keeps you engaged till the end!
Would recommend it highly for a good read. Hope you enjoy
Couldn't stop reading!
By Van Karin April 4, 2016
That was a great and well written (love / growing up) story in itself, but I liked especially
the Salt Spring Island connection, since I used to live there once for a year. The description
of the place (and of BC / Canada in general) in the 50ies brought back lots of memories, despite
things happening in a different time.
I really enjoyed this book!!
By Leah Ewald August 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved the characters they were easy to like!!
I rooted for them through the whole thing! There were a couple parts in the
book that got complicated because I don't know much about science or planes
but the story was great!
Grabbed at my heart immediately
By Chris July 8, 2014
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. First of all, the two main charachters
in the story grabbed at my heart immediately. As one after another obstacle
came in their way, I felt both would be robbed of their forever love and
happiness. But it goes to show you, true love conquers all. Sandy Graham did a
fantastic job of hooking you into the storyline. I highly recommend reading this
book. And be prepared to drop everything you're doing as once you start this book,
you'll not want to put it down.
From Heart To Heart
By Pandorasecho July 7, 2014
I do not often find books with characters I enjoy getting to know as much as I
enjoyed Delbert Pillage. From the time the novel introduces him as a shy, harassed
genius of a child - he touched my heart. I told the author that I had received the
book but I would not be able to read it this month as I will be busy. But I made
the mistake of reading the first chapter. I often read a chapter to decide if a
book is worth keeping around, and then put the book aside for later. There was
no setting it aside. Sandy Graham has a simple and direct voice. He often tells
scenes of great trauma or emotion in a few short lines of print. But simple does
not apply to the characters he creates. In simple language he introduces people
of depth and complexity and reality.
Delbert Pillage is not only a bullied child, he is strong and brilliant and
determined and caring. He does everything better and knows more than anyone
else but he isn't simply a comic book hero with a superpower. He is vulnerable
and insecure and wonderful. I can't think exactly why he reminds me of Forest
Gump but there is a similar feeling.
The love of his life, the parents he must deal with, the mentor and the villain
are less fully realized characters but provide believable interactions for
the backdrop of this story that goes beyond love story into history and
aviation and delight.
Highly reccomend this book. In fact I suspect I have to read the sequel.
And I better not read the first chapter before I get to the essential
jobs in my own life.
After I got into it I couldn't put it down
By Don Watson June 11, 2013
When I first started this book I thought Oh No I'm Not going to like this book,
but after I got into it I couldn't put it down. I walked around the house saying
I would just read 1 more chapter and then put it down but I couldn't put it down.
In fact one night I got up in the middle of the night to see what was going
to happen next and read 2 more chapters. I'm not real big on love stories but I
loved this book. I am a big Avro Arrow fan and its obvious the author knows this
subject well.
I really hope the author writes a follow up Novel on the Arrow that got away and
I will be the first one to purchase a copy and get an update on Delbert & Sylvia,
I rate this book with 2 thumbs UP.
Sandy this is the first time I have ever written a review on any book - Don Watson
(Author of one of the other Arrow Books)
A worthy read; could not put it down
By Peter Morton April 22, 2012
This is a novel of improbabilities; but it hangs together so well that you have to keep turning the
pages. I put off reading it till I was on a business trip, and it cut severely into my sleep time.
The development of the Delbert character from a misunderstood child into an almost superhuman genius
takes place so gradually that the reader forms a strong attachment of sympathy and affection with the
character. The love interest is played out with sensitivity and innocence, touched with tragedy.
If the reader has any connection with technology, be that electronic, computing, or aeronautical,
it will send you to Google to validate Delbert's amazing accomplishments in an era where
the underlying science was just emerging in each of those fields. Perhaps the best aspect of the
book is how it illustrates the value of love, empathy, and support in every person's
development: if negative, or if positive; how it magnifies the potential of every life.
Buy the book, you won't be sorry.
Two Loves Lost rivets with a great deal of mixed emotions
By Norman Goldman "Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures"
May 18, 2013
From the very first sentence and over the course of 300 pages, Sandy Graham's debut novel
Two Loves Lost rivets with a great deal of mixed emotions.
As a scrawny youngster, Delbert Pillage was the target and victim of bullying from some of his
classmates who would ridicule his physical appearance notably his ears, forehead and his torn clothes.
Delbert was very shy, frail and poor and thus he became an easy target for incessant taunts.
Unbeknownst to his parents, teachers and the other school kids, Delbert was in fact extremely
talented. His teachers misjudged his ability, as he would only show enough to scrape through
each year and they would constantly complain about his lethargic attitude in class. Little did
they realize that Delbert's behavior was only a cover up to avoid further humiliation at the
hands of the school's bullies.
Fortunately for Delbert, one of his talented teachers did recognize his superior intellect and
was the catalyst in setting in motion a series of events that eventually would lead to far reaching
ramifications concerning his life. However, although Delbert agreed to pursue the path carved out
for him, he did so with a great deal of trepidation, as it meant being away for extended periods
of time from his sweetheart Sylvia, whom he had known since the age of six and whom he had promised
to marry. To give away or even provide any hint as to what became of their relationship would
certainly be a betrayal.
Apart from bringing to the table a smorgasbord of themes as bullying, unrecognized gifted children,
teenage love, and the tragic consequences of rape, Graham cleverly interweaves a backstory
concerning Canada's finest aviation achievement, the production of the delta wing Avro Canada
CF-105. It was at the height of the Cold War during the 1950s that the Soviets had introduced new
long range bombers that had the ability to fly over the North Pole to attack North America. This
was extremely serious for fear of a surprise nuclear attack. In 1953 Canada stepped forward to
manufacture a delta-winged interceptor aircraft that was designed and built by Avro Aircraft Limited
in Malton, Ontario. The aircraft was to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) primary
interceptor in the 1960s. Unfortunately, not long after the 1958 commencement of its flight test
program, the development of the Arrow was abruptly and controversially halted and this led to a very
long and bitter political debate. It also led to a serious brain drain that deeply affected the
aviation and electronics industry in Canada.
Graham writes in a spare compact style sketching the life of a young teenager growing up, gaining
confidence and coming to terms with his brilliance-something not to be ashamed of or hidden.
Both adults and young adults will enjoy the suspense and unexpected twists and turns of the
storyline, however, this is not to say that the novel is without its defects. For example, I would
have liked to have seen more development of conflict particularly in the relationship between
Delbert and Sylvia. In addition, Graham, influenced by his vast amount of experience in the
Canadian and American aviation industry, has fallen prey to what the French term, "deformation
professionnelle," or the over usage of technical terms and descriptions, and as a result,
very little is really added to the development of the characters or the plot. Nonetheless,
Graham still manages to weave a gripping yarn and I look forward to hearing more from him in
the future.