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smlunden's review against another edition
3.0
good story, interesting. but the story revolved around love and I did not believe in the love of any of the couples.
hobbes199's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those strange books, that although I read it in one sitting and was hooked from start-to-finish, I didn't finish it thinking 'That was an amazing novel!'
Maybe it's because I found the ending obvious and I was frustrated by my review copies poor formatting (the names of the characters being interviewed were jumbled, and it took a few goes to guess who was the subject) that it didn't have the wow factor for me. Characterisation was strong with some (Alex and Jaz especially) but felt underdeveloped in others
Many of the reviews seem to hold the physical copy of the novel as it's main selling point (some earning extra stars for it) so it's possible that a basic e-galley just didn't hold as much sway for me and add to the over-all experience.
I'd recommend this as a quick holiday read.
Maybe it's because I found the ending obvious and I was frustrated by my review copies poor formatting (the names of the characters being interviewed were jumbled, and it took a few goes to guess who was the subject) that it didn't have the wow factor for me. Characterisation was strong with some (Alex and Jaz especially) but felt underdeveloped in others
Many of the reviews seem to hold the physical copy of the novel as it's main selling point (some earning extra stars for it) so it's possible that a basic e-galley just didn't hold as much sway for me and add to the over-all experience.
I'd recommend this as a quick holiday read.
ajlovesx's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I wasn’t sure about this book when I started it but within a few chapters I was hooked. This is like nothing I’ve ever read before, which is both a good and bad thing. The story itself is interesting and new, and a great introduction to sci-fi for people that don’t usually read the genre.
I feel like the romances (Which are paramount to “the search to understand love”) are not developed enough for me to understand that love is the important thing in the story.
I wasn’t sure about this book when I started it but within a few chapters I was hooked. This is like nothing I’ve ever read before, which is both a good and bad thing. The story itself is interesting and new, and a great introduction to sci-fi for people that don’t usually read the genre.
I feel like the romances (Which are paramount to “the search to understand love”) are not developed enough for me to understand that love is the important thing in the story.
samikshabhattacharjee23's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting book written in an interesting way
amothersmusings1's review against another edition
5.0
"My Side of The Diamond" is going to be one of those books that will either be loved or hated.......and I'm happy to say I loved it!!
First of all, I must say how beautifully designed and printed this book is. Produced to resemble a moleskin notebook, just like the notebook Becky one of the characters writes in and with some lovely appropriate and detailed sketched pictures throughout, this book is definitely one to keep on your bookshelves.
Jazmin has been shunned ever since her best friend Becky disappeared. But Becky didn't just disappear - she jumped off a tall building and seemingly never reached the ground. It was as if she simply vanished into thin air. Did Jazmin have something to do with her disappearance? Or was it more to do with Icarus, so beguiling and strangely ever youthful, with whom Becky became suddenly besotted . . .
I was quite ambivalent at first about whether I would like this book, being tagged as part science fiction/romance and part social commentary but I was soon well into the story and found I couldn't put it down. I likened the plot to a YA version of Terminator, Men in Black and Dr Who all rolled into one with a running theme of an alien race landing on earth in order to understand love. Priceless.....and I adored it!
I could really feel the emphasis in the writing as each of the very likeable and endearing characters recounted their stories to Mr Jones in a series of interviews.
Very well written, easy to follow and understand, the author Sally Gardner has done an exceptional job with a really unique and original story, for which I'd happily recommend and read more should another follow in the series.
5 stars.
First of all, I must say how beautifully designed and printed this book is. Produced to resemble a moleskin notebook, just like the notebook Becky one of the characters writes in and with some lovely appropriate and detailed sketched pictures throughout, this book is definitely one to keep on your bookshelves.
Jazmin has been shunned ever since her best friend Becky disappeared. But Becky didn't just disappear - she jumped off a tall building and seemingly never reached the ground. It was as if she simply vanished into thin air. Did Jazmin have something to do with her disappearance? Or was it more to do with Icarus, so beguiling and strangely ever youthful, with whom Becky became suddenly besotted . . .
I was quite ambivalent at first about whether I would like this book, being tagged as part science fiction/romance and part social commentary but I was soon well into the story and found I couldn't put it down. I likened the plot to a YA version of Terminator, Men in Black and Dr Who all rolled into one with a running theme of an alien race landing on earth in order to understand love. Priceless.....and I adored it!
I could really feel the emphasis in the writing as each of the very likeable and endearing characters recounted their stories to Mr Jones in a series of interviews.
Very well written, easy to follow and understand, the author Sally Gardner has done an exceptional job with a really unique and original story, for which I'd happily recommend and read more should another follow in the series.
5 stars.
ljbentley27's review against another edition
3.0
My Side of the Diamond by Sally Gardner is a very curious tale that had me reading way outside of my comfort zone. It is part YA which I love, part thriller and mystery which I am lukewarm to and part science fiction which is so not my genre.
However, Sally Gardner has created a really compelling story and full bodied cast that I found myself unable to put the damn book down! The story is told from multi-perspective which lends the book an air of displacement and discomfort. I did not feel comfortable or settled reading it. I constantly questioned my characters – on their morals and what they said.
I do feel more settled now that I have finished My Side of the Diamond but it has left me irked in the best possible way.
I would love to know if the Lazarus theme is a link to David Bowie? There are too many shout outs. If anyone knows if this was a choice by Sally Gardner – or if indeed Sally Gardner you would like to answer this question for me – then I would be really grateful.
My Side of the Diamond is a strange little book that begs to be read.
My Side of the Diamond by Sally Gardner is available now.
For more information regarding Sally Gardner (@TheSallyGardner) please visit www.sallygardner.net.
For more information regarding Hot Key Books (HotKeyBooks) please visit www.hotkeybooks.com.
For more information regarding Bonnier Zaffre Books (@BonnierZaffre) please visit their Twitter page.
However, Sally Gardner has created a really compelling story and full bodied cast that I found myself unable to put the damn book down! The story is told from multi-perspective which lends the book an air of displacement and discomfort. I did not feel comfortable or settled reading it. I constantly questioned my characters – on their morals and what they said.
I do feel more settled now that I have finished My Side of the Diamond but it has left me irked in the best possible way.
I would love to know if the Lazarus theme is a link to David Bowie? There are too many shout outs. If anyone knows if this was a choice by Sally Gardner – or if indeed Sally Gardner you would like to answer this question for me – then I would be really grateful.
My Side of the Diamond is a strange little book that begs to be read.
My Side of the Diamond by Sally Gardner is available now.
For more information regarding Sally Gardner (@TheSallyGardner) please visit www.sallygardner.net.
For more information regarding Hot Key Books (HotKeyBooks) please visit www.hotkeybooks.com.
For more information regarding Bonnier Zaffre Books (@BonnierZaffre) please visit their Twitter page.
faerieontheshelf's review against another edition
3.0
↠ 2.5 stars
The Positive: the physical format of this book is really unusual, which greatly influenced me when I picked it up - it looks and feels rather like a notebook, which is a really ingenuous and inventive idea!
The Negative: Sally Gardner's books have been a bit hit-and-miss with me. I like some, and I dislike others. 'My Side of the Diamond' was interesting because it had an unusual idea behind it, but I didn't necessarily feel it resonated with me and on the whole it isn't something I'd read again. I found it in the YA section of my local bookstore but I have been informed it is an adult read, which confused me quite a bit. Similarly, I wasn't fond of the writing style and the characters seemed a bit bland. The romance wasn't realistically developed and the plotting of the narrative was unevenly placed in some sections.
Even though I didn't like it, I'm sure I lot of people will find it enjoyable because it is bizarre and the story isn't something that's been done before!
The Positive: the physical format of this book is really unusual, which greatly influenced me when I picked it up - it looks and feels rather like a notebook, which is a really ingenuous and inventive idea!
The Negative: Sally Gardner's books have been a bit hit-and-miss with me. I like some, and I dislike others. 'My Side of the Diamond' was interesting because it had an unusual idea behind it, but I didn't necessarily feel it resonated with me and on the whole it isn't something I'd read again. I found it in the YA section of my local bookstore but I have been informed it is an adult read, which confused me quite a bit. Similarly, I wasn't fond of the writing style and the characters seemed a bit bland. The romance wasn't realistically developed and the plotting of the narrative was unevenly placed in some sections.
Even though I didn't like it, I'm sure I lot of people will find it enjoyable because it is bizarre and the story isn't something that's been done before!
saccalai's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me a little while to get into but then I really enjoyed reading the story from different points of view. Jazmin is the main character and is being interviewed by a somewhat mysterious man. Almost nothing is revealed about him until the end. He goes on to interview other people too and between them you get a picture of aliens, friendship, love, hardship and truth.
Jazmin has been through a lot after her best friend, Becky, disappears. She is torn apart by the courts trying to find out what happened to Becky and Icarus, and what Jazmin's part was in everything. Becky and Icarus jumped from a building but then disappeared into thin air. Their bodies were never found and no one ever found out what happened to them. No one believes Jazmin's side of the story until Mr Jones comes along to interview her and gets the full story from everyone who had a part to play.
Jazmin has been through a lot after her best friend, Becky, disappears. She is torn apart by the courts trying to find out what happened to Becky and Icarus, and what Jazmin's part was in everything. Becky and Icarus jumped from a building but then disappeared into thin air. Their bodies were never found and no one ever found out what happened to them. No one believes Jazmin's side of the story until Mr Jones comes along to interview her and gets the full story from everyone who had a part to play.
dyslexicreader's review
3.0
I received My Side of the Diamond in my last months Book Box club subscription box, this was an extra book to celebrate their 1st Anniversary.
My Side of the Diamond is about a girl called Jazmin, who has been shunned since her best friend Becky disappeared. She jumped off a tall building, and never reaching the ground. Did Jazmin have anything to do with Becky disappearance, or did it have to do with the mysteries, forever youthful and beguiling Icarus. A man who Becky becomes besotted just before her disappearance.
This book is written as the character telling their side of the story to "Mr Jones", the main person that is telling their story to "Mr Jones" is Jazmin. This may not be everyone cup of tea having the book in this format, but I enjoyed it. It's interesting to read a story when the character have perspective over their actions.
The book went into a direction that I would never of guessed, which kept me gripped in the story. This book is the perfect one sit wonder, I read it in a couple of hours.
I give this book 3.8 out of 5
My Side of the Diamond is about a girl called Jazmin, who has been shunned since her best friend Becky disappeared. She jumped off a tall building, and never reaching the ground. Did Jazmin have anything to do with Becky disappearance, or did it have to do with the mysteries, forever youthful and beguiling Icarus. A man who Becky becomes besotted just before her disappearance.
This book is written as the character telling their side of the story to "Mr Jones", the main person that is telling their story to "Mr Jones" is Jazmin. This may not be everyone cup of tea having the book in this format, but I enjoyed it. It's interesting to read a story when the character have perspective over their actions.
The book went into a direction that I would never of guessed, which kept me gripped in the story. This book is the perfect one sit wonder, I read it in a couple of hours.
I give this book 3.8 out of 5