You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
.png)
4.5 Stars rounded up because of the ending.
What can you say about this one? This novel is written in the first person from the perspective of Daniel. As his Daddy declares, at one juncture of the story, 14/15 year old Daniel is one unusual boy. He has a beautiful lyrical way of seeing the world and a gentle more traditionally feminine way of behaving. Both his Daddy and his older sister Cathy are physically violent , and yet they are both steady souls of principles and character. They all try to live what should be a peaceful quite life in the house they built in the woods.
This novel almost feels 19th century as they have books rather than TV, they hunt (and poach) the lands around them for food, the teenagers smoke with full permission of their father, their Daddy makes a living by bare knuckle boxing etc. However,the story is actually set in relatively recent times.
The simplicity of the family life in the woods, the atmospheric writing and the undertones of violence create a gothic feel to this novel. It slowly builds to it’s conclusion and then leaves you there. I’m still at that cliff edge looking at what just happened. Actually I see another GRs reviewer said “the book sucked me in and spat me out when it was done with me.” So Phew not just me then.
Prize lists should get you reading and enjoying books that you otherwise would never have heard about so I have to congratulate the Man Booker Prize section committee on this one.
On weaknesses of the book, I have no problem with Daniels use of lyrical language when thinking and dialect when speaking. After all, he is an unusual boy that has led an unusual life and has had books where others had TV. However, there is an instance of a visitor to the house in the early hours of the morning describing a dead body that verged into language that simply wouldn’t be spoken by most people. Other than that thee were only minor flaws here and there.
This is not recommended for the faint-hearted but if you are fond of Gothic fiction and can take some graphic violence towards the end (bare-knuckle fighting etc) - consider it recommend to you.
What can you say about this one? This novel is written in the first person from the perspective of Daniel. As his Daddy declares, at one juncture of the story, 14/15 year old Daniel is one unusual boy. He has a beautiful lyrical way of seeing the world and a gentle more traditionally feminine way of behaving. Both his Daddy and his older sister Cathy are physically violent , and yet they are both steady souls of principles and character. They all try to live what should be a peaceful quite life in the house they built in the woods.
This novel almost feels 19th century as they have books rather than TV, they hunt (and poach) the lands around them for food, the teenagers smoke with full permission of their father, their Daddy makes a living by bare knuckle boxing etc. However,the story is actually set in relatively recent times.
The simplicity of the family life in the woods, the atmospheric writing and the undertones of violence create a gothic feel to this novel. It slowly builds to it’s conclusion and then leaves you there. I’m still at that cliff edge looking at what just happened. Actually I see another GRs reviewer said “the book sucked me in and spat me out when it was done with me.” So Phew not just me then.
Prize lists should get you reading and enjoying books that you otherwise would never have heard about so I have to congratulate the Man Booker Prize section committee on this one.
On weaknesses of the book, I have no problem with Daniels use of lyrical language when thinking and dialect when speaking. After all, he is an unusual boy that has led an unusual life and has had books where others had TV. However, there is an instance of a visitor to the house in the early hours of the morning describing a dead body that verged into language that simply wouldn’t be spoken by most people. Other than that thee were only minor flaws here and there.
This is not recommended for the faint-hearted but if you are fond of Gothic fiction and can take some graphic violence towards the end (bare-knuckle fighting etc) - consider it recommend to you.