I've only read 2 of Matt's books before, and they were both children's ones (To be a Cat; Shadow Forest). He is probably best known for his adult novel 'The Humans' and for his non-fiction work on depression 'Reasons to Stay Alive' (Matt has been a sufferer of depression for many years).
This current book has already attracted attention from the press - even though at the time of writing this, the book hasn't even been published yet, film rights were snapped up, and Benedict Cumberbatch is due to play the lead role in the upcoming film! (as well as producing it).
The book is about Tom Hazard, who suffers from a rare medical condition (anageria) which causes him to age much much slower than the average human. He looks and puts his age at 41, but he is actually over 400 years old. There aren't many other sufferers of it in the world, but one of them, Hendrich, has decided to set up The Albatross Society, and aims to recruit all sufferers into the society to protect them from medics and scientists from using them in scientific experiments. Tom has lived through many historical events (for example the plague), met many famous historical figures (for example Shakespeare), but one thing that is the most difficult for him to manage, and one which Hendrich has advised him against, is falling love. He fell in love once, with Rose, and they had a daughter, Marion, who also has anageria. Marion has disappeared, Tom hasn't seen her since she was a child, so he is now trying to find her, but Hendrich seems to be putting obstacles in his way.
I enjoyed the book - I loved the detail of the historical events mentioned. Matt obviously did a lot of research. But I did find my interest waning a bit in the last few chapters - I skim-read them instead. It's a great premise for a story, and I can see it working well as a film, so I'd be interested to see it when it comes out.
I thought A Little Life was long - this is a massive tome at over 900 pages. The main difference between the two books is that I loved A Little Life. Sorry, but I can't say the same about City On Fire. It was overlong (it's taken me over a month, perhaps two, to read it), confusing, a bit pretentious (keep a dictionary at hand if, like me, you are an ordinary person with an ordinary person's vocabulary. Not quite as bad as Will Self, but nearly there.) I totally lost the plot (literally) a number of times, I got confused over the characters (mainly the Post Humanist gang - I still don't know who has the tattoos or the green hair).
The main premise of the story is this. It is 1970s New York. A girl is found shot in a park on New Year's Eve. That's the gist. Add into that many characters who are linked to the girl in one way or another, so you are left wondering who may have done it. But i didn't really care - even when the guilty person was revealed there was no gasp from me - nada. We have Regan and Will, son and daughter of a wealthy business man William Hamilton Sweeney, whose name is known all over New York. The snake-like and unlikeable Amory Gould, Regan and Will's step uncle from their father's second marriage to the money grabbing Felicia. Regan's husband Keith, who is having an affair with Sam, the victim in the park. Mercer, Will's black boyfriend, who also found Sam's body. Um, then we have Will's 'friends' from when he was in a short-lived punk band - Nicky Chaos, Sewer Girl, Sol, DT. Then there's the reporter Richard, his neighbour Jenny, Sam's father the firework maker, oh and not forgetting Regan and Keith's children Cate and Will. Yes, there are 3 Wills. When the story goes back and forth in time it gets mildly confusing. Then there's Charlie, who had a crush on Sam, and when he finds out she's been shot becomes Messiah-like. Oh, nearly forgot the crippled detective who has to sort out all the mess - and from what I understood, he didn't really solve it, someone showed him all the clues and led him to it.
There are fireworks, fires, black-outs, business frauds, drugs, anarchists. I've read good reviews and bad reviews - if you have the time to spare, read it yourself and make your own mind up.
Geek Girl - Picture Perfect
by Holly Smale
(Review by Megan, 11)
The third book in the Geek Girl series, still holds me page by page.
Harriet Manners has had the best summer ever and is planning her next few weeks of pure delight on A3 pieces of paper.... but not for long.
On the day of her exam results, Harriet returns home to find her parents hurriedly packing: they were packing for New York. Astonished but excited, she takes the move as a new experience, and looks forward to seeing the wonderful sights of America! Unfortunately, Harriet's parents made a white lie, they weren't moving to New York, but two hours away from it in a shabby American estate in Greenway. Furious, Harriet runs away to the glamorous city for a modeling job, but will things turn out alright for her in the end?
A gripping read as always from Holly Smale, still one of my favourite books! Definately recommended for 11/12- 15 yrs. GEEK OUT! :D
