I started Meg Rosoff's Printz winning novel a year ago. Stopped around page 60, not because I didn't like it, but because I LOVED it and didn't want to zip through it in one sitting like I knew I would. So this past week I picked it up again savoring a few pages of the richly romantic writing before falling asleep each night. I finally finished it last night. I am so glad I waited. The story, about a damaged girl who is caught up in an "occupation" while visiting cousins in England, is all the more relevant today as so many people on our planet are damaged from violence and wars.
As writers we are often told to "find our voice" and once we do to "keep it consistent."
If you are looking for a pitch perfect example of one of those raw, rare voices and consistency of that same tragic, yet hopeful voice, read this book. If you're looking for an incredibly daring story of triumph over adversity, read this book...you get my point, just read it. You won't be sorry.
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impressed
Comments
I thought the anorexic bit was interesting because it wasn't the focus of the book. Eating disorders are often thought to be the disease of the rich and plentiful nations, and wouldn't occur if there wasn't plenty of food available...maybe she was toying with that idea as Daisy was "cured" by her war time experience. But you're right, there was so much richness and thematic stuff there, she may not have needed it for the book to still be unique. Overall, would be a great book to discuss in a lit class one day! Thanks for chiming in...
Just goes to show that not one book can please everyone.
I just finished Boy Toy and man.... I had serious pangs of jealousy.
Janet
I'm so bad.
That's okay not to love it, man, but I do think it's a great example of voice carrying a story. You?
if i did, no wonder i picked it up again...
And I'm like you -- I don't write reviews, but if I read something I just can't help talking about . . . it hits the blog. Because I'd like other readers to do the same for my book!
have you read her newest? What I Was also wonderful.
as an author (& this may be a postable topic in itself), do you ever wonder why her books are marketed the way they are?I think her first was marketed as YA here but Adult (i think it was this one) in the UK, but then the second was YA all around and now her latest is Adult here and YA in the UK. Something like that, I'm proabably not remembering the specifics, but it surely is odd. I'm all for reading what I like no matter what level it's geared toward. just a thought.
thanks for your thoughtful comments. =)
I agree that the anorexia seemed minor, but I wouldn't take it out because my absolute favorite line in this book was something like: "I was starving, starving, starving for Edmund. And what do you know, that's the feeling I love best in the world."
how's the babe?
give me your list and i'll edit it for you!