babyleo's reviews
1689 reviews

A longer version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book - https://wp.me/p3x8rS-36x

First things first, this is a book that deals with suicide and a split timeline between following through and not. In a Sliding Doors meets The Lovely Bones style we see both lives of Declan: what happens if he jumps, what happens if he doesn’t. 

There's great descriptions of teenage life and their thoughts and decisions. Larkin’s written a great teenage voice and the tunnel vision teenagers have about what is important and earth shattering in their life comes across. It’s great insight which helps you understand their actions and motivations; how they are hormone driven, and how they’re experiencing everything the first time: from friend issues, to family issues, to first love. Larkin comes in strong early on with the big emotions and it hooks you right in without glorifying or making it grotesque.

The best part is Declan isn't special. He has mates who are typical teenage boys. Annoying sister, parent issues, and family dynamics. It appears to come from nowhere which is why it's so great. It was a shock. It is unexpected. It's great to show how something like this can happen to the most normal looking kid ever. The voice is believable and the relationships Declan has with his family is believable, even the different dynamics he has with each member of his family. You do behave differently around different people and his favourite parent is clear while unintentional.

It is sad and profound, it has so many lessons about life and humanity and hope. It is incredible how Larkin managed to weave in these important things that need to be hammered into every single person who ever thinks they are the alone or are the only one who feels a certain way. It’s natural but you can tell where The Lesson is but I don’t care. It also comes across through the voice of a boy who has been told this in a professional setting and is remembering it. He is using these lessons to live his life. The life he almost didn’t have.

Honestly it is a brutal book. It deals with big issues, it describes big issues with quite a lot of detail, and the consequences of both sides smack you in the face with the truth and reality. And that is why it is phenomenal. It never strays from being a YA voice, which is more important because it knows its audience. Larkin knows who is reading this, knows the message needs to get out that your teenage years are not forever. But also lets kids know that people of all ages go through things. You are not alone. I am trying hard not to write an entire essay about this book (and failing I know), but I cannot stress enough how amazing it is. If you can handle the brutality of it all – not only the few brief descriptions, but the emotional brutality, and the reality of life - please read it. 

A longer version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book - https://wp.me/p3x8rS-30o
 

This book is amazing and it only got better and better as it went along. I love Mort, I love Death, I love everything about this book: the set up, Mort’s life, and the life of those around him. Essentially Death decides to take a holiday and Mort gradually finds a new vocation. It’s brilliant.

There is so much to love in Mort. The subtle but apt social commentary – timeless, naturally. Especially the ways you can see variations of our own world reflected in the mirrored, slightly askew, and distorted world in the book. Like Equal Rites, Pratchett is a master at sliding these in amongst the most absurd things, knocks you over with his insight before returning to the bizarre.

I am probably biased because I fell in love with Death years ago so I may have liked this book regardless, but Pratchett tells such a brilliant story that it’s hard not to admire everything about it and cherish all the characters involved.

The mysticism of Discworld is on show as the magic moves around and affects people. Being Death’s apprentice is a job that is both mundane and fantastic and seeing Mort learn what’s involved reveals more about the world and those in it.