The Boy who Lived with Ghosts

John Mitchell

2013

ISBN 0615793207

This is not a book I would choose without a prompt to do so, but I’m glad I gave it a go.

The settings - housing estates and pubs - paint a vivid picture right from the beginning, and the interactions of the family members bring to life an interesting and volatile childhood that, although it’s revealed in a touching and amusing way, is quite shocking at the same time.

I liked the way John parroted the phrases of the adults around him, casually pointing out that he’d break his bloody neck one day, and the way he started each chapter with a complete deconstruction of any earlier optimism made it hard to remember that this isn’t fiction - this was a real childhood, shocking in places and difficult by any standards.

Margueretta takes centre stage, claiming any and all attention, healthy or not, and in the early days of mental illness diagnoses, created every kind of tension in an already tough situation.  I felt sympathetic to the entire family, but perhaps for John’s mother most of all, and her breakdown was more expected than surprising. 

This was a fascinating glimpse into a different time, and a different way of life.  

Finished 28/10/13
Read as monthly read for OnlineBookclub.org

Hyddenworld: Awakening

William Horwood

2011

0230712614 

This book opened with a more in-depth retelling of the final chapters of the book that preceded it, which I appreciated.  Dropping catch-up details throughout a book can get irritating, so it was a refreshing change to have it all done and out of the way right from the beginning.

Spring was about Brum, and Englalond.  This second installment has expanded the world to Europe, and the entire Earth, and follows characters on all sides of the struggle for the Spring gem.  Less about Jack and more about the world at large.

Judith, the Shield Maiden, is a tortured character, one moment a child and the next more adult than her parents, but her story was less interesting to me than that of Bedwyn Stort.  I wouldn’t have guessed from the first book that his thread would have been such an important one.

I found this book to be more interesting and slightly more adult than the first book.  The language is still wonderfully easy to absorb, in spite of the more complex politics and ideas, and hints of things to come.  It follows well with the idea of each book being a season in the story, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Autumn and Winter develop.

Finished 16/10/13

Hyddenworld: Spring

William Horwood
2009
0230712606

This is a re-read – I first read this book in 2010, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  This time around was prompted by finding the second book in the series, and wanting to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything important.  (it turns out that wasn’t necessary, as the first part of the second book seems to be the last few chapters of book one, which is helpful)

Easy to read and beautifully composed, this book seems at times to be written for children – the language is easy to absorb and brings to life the forgotten corners of semi-rural England – but the themes and politics keep it interesting for an older audience.

The characters are flawed, in the generally adorable manner of a trusted circle of good guys, without being overly saccharine.  The world-building isn’t overbearing, and is as much a part of the story as the unfolding of their journey.

Jack and Katherine’s love story is slow and sweet, although I did find that Jack settling into life at the cottage at the beginning seemed to be less smooth than the rest of the narrative.

I really enjoyed this as a quick retreat from the world over lunchbreaks.  Not too demanding, and interesting enough that I’m already into the sequel.

Finished: 11/10/13