Top 10 for 2012

As I said in the last blog post, I wanted to do my highlights of 2012. Now I’m going to start off by saying that these are not necessarily books published this year, but I read them this year and so they have helped make up my Year of Reading.

I understand that the year isn’t over, but If I read anything stand out between now and New Year I’ll be sure to let you know.

I figured I’d give you my Top 10. Now, these are only in a loose order, it can be very hard to rank several different kinds of genius, and so I’ll do my best.

# 10

The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

This is a tame book for a David Almond Title, but for me, that will give it more general appeal. It’s quirky, fun, and tender at its core. There is one passage that won me over. He basically describes techniques writers use to tell stories, to jump from place to place and back and forth in time, while actually telling you the story! It was brilliant! I’d quote it, but it goes on for a few pages, so I’ll let you read it for yourself.

Find it on Goodreads

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Audio Book)

Last year, A Monster Calls was released. Patrick Ness had developed an idea that originated with Siobhan Dowd. It is absolutely AMAZING and you can read my review of it HERE.

Just recently, I had an almost 5 hour car trip in front of me (round trip in one day) and was looking for an audio book that could fit neatly into that journey: this one, running at 3 hours 52 mins was the perfect candidate. Particularly because I'd been desperate to revisit this book, and as I'd been given the Bolinda audio version of it, my decision was made.

And WOW.

This is the best quality, best read audio I think I've ever listened to. The book itself is amazing, but you can read that in my other review. Here I want to talk about Jason Isaacs.

To be honest, when I saw that he was the narrator, I thought to myself, OK, so Lucius Malfoy is reading it, this will be interesting. I couldn't think of any other movies I'd seen that he'd been in so I couldn't compare styles or know what to expect.

Well, what can I say, he is incredible. And not just incredible, but the PERFECT match for this book. He deftly creates distinct voices for each character, there is never once confusion over who is saying what (as can sometimes happen). And his voice! His narration voice is deep and scratchy, perfectly eloquent, seemingly detached (as the narrator should be) but containing the perfect amount of compassion for the subject matter. For me, it sounded like Jim Kay's illustrations had found a voice. And that was even before the monster began talking. Deeper still, gruff and rumbling. An age old yew tree come to life. Oh I felt it. Not  for one moment did any voice, any character, feel forced.

I'm not sure what else I can say. If audio books are at all your thing, I couldn't think of a better way to spend four hours.

5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

8/40

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness & Siobhan Dowd

A Novel by Patrick Ness from an Original idea by Siobhan Dowd

The ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy quickly and firmly established Patrick Ness as one of the authors that inspires me the most.

Therefore, I was more than excited to hear about his new work ‘A Monster Calls' and could not wait until I had read it. So much so, that when I had my hands on a copy, all other reading (regardless of how important – uni and work – were laid aside).

This particular book was born in the mind of Siobhan Dowd who, tragically, died before she could write it. In Patrick’s words: “She had the characters, a detailed premise, and a beginning. What she didn’t have, unfortunately, was time.”

So, in being invited to use Siobhan’s idea, Patrick let it grow, in the wild way of stories. Then he ran with it and made trouble.

And I for one am thrilled that he did. The story that these two have come up with is fantastic and one to be appreciated on any number of levels.

For me, it reads like a beautifully crafted modern fairy tale, full of modern sensibilities and psychologies. What I mean by this can easily be explained with a quote from the book:

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere inbetween.”

Mix that with the idea that not all stories have a happy ending and you get a brilliantly written tale of a boy’s struggle with his mother’s illness and a visit from a Monster as old as the earth who wants only one thing: the truth, spoken from Coner’s lips.

While the idea was Siobhan’s and the words Patrick’s, it would be unfair to review this book without reference to Jim Kay’s illustrations which perfectly capture the flickering, messy, darkness that would be conjured by one’s imagination were this tale read aloud by a dancing fireplace. Some illustrated novels seem like two works clumsily thrust together, the illustrations adding nothing, sometimes detracting from the written text. Jim Kay’s art adds to the snowball effect that began with the text, built in your imagination, was complemented by the artwork and had me glancing at the window to make sure that there was no such Monster peering in.

Moving, dark, and real, A Monster Calls can be devoured in one sitting and leaves you asking yourself: “What is my truth?”

5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

The Knife Of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Book One of the Chaos Walking Series

Wow!

Just, Wow!

I could not put this book down. It was extremely fast paced, a sprint from start to finish (for more than one reason).

And boy was it fascinating! In a New World where men can hear each other's thoughts (all of them, all of the time - hence 'Chaos Walking') it's incredible the way Ness explores the way this would affect how humans relate to each other, their varied reactions seem to distinguish the men from the boys. Because for his whole life, Todd has been taught that it was an alien germ that cause the 'Noise' and it was the same germ that killed all of the females of Prentisstown. So the aliens (natives) are to blame and were killed out during the war. But was that a lie?

How would you feel if you discovered that everything you thought you knew the world you lived in was a lie, and the consequences of that lie are a heavy price to pay...

This book is Amazing! I recommend it for anyone over 14 (there's a bit of language and death which might not be suitable for younger readers, but by age suggestion is just a guide too). Even if 'Fantasy' isn't your thing, this books has more of a 'colonial settlers' feel to it than magic etc. It's just got the extremely interesting 'Noise' aspect, which is almost a sociology experiment in novel format.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!