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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Urgh, I can't believe it took me so long to take this out of my pile of books from the Northern YA Literature Festival back in March.
I think I was nervous because people kept comparing it to The Great Gatsby, and (unpopular opinion incoming), I loathe that book with a passion. Whilst the decadence is lushly described none of the characters have any soul.
The only thing that this gorgeous gem has in common with Gatsby is the parties and the time period.
Someone on Goodreads described it as the "most summery summer book of 2018" and they're not wrong, the summer weather sizzles off the page, from the baking August sun, to the gentle evening sea breezes and most of all the salty chill of the sea Lou loves so much.
The story follows Louise Trevelyan throughout the summer of 1929, starting with her feeling lost and isolated, the empty abandoned Cardew House she has always snuck off to seek refuge in has been reinhabited by its owners and her beloved older sister has married and moved out, leaving Lou to work how to just be the "'and Louise' part of 'Alice and Louise.'"
However she can't stay away from the Cardew House and ends up entangled with the glittering society belles and beaus and the world they inhabit. Over the course of weeks the glamorous but mysterious Cardew siblings turn Lou's world upside down and introduce her to a world she'd only seen in the magazines she loved to pour over with her sister.
The book is glittering, giddy and whips along, ensuring and twirling you along like one of Caitlin Cardew's parties. It vividly describes and evokes the roaring twenties, from the London scene, the quiet, tranquil unaffected village of Penlyn, the fashions and the subtle shifts beginning to happen in society.
I basically read it in one sitting, laughing and swooning as I went. It is not my usual fare and I was unsure why I picked it up at NYALF other than to try something a bit different. My ARC version appears to be some what longer than the final published version and I'd be intrigued to know what was cut because I honestly never felt it was too long.
A Sky Painted Gold is a gorgeous vivid account of an incredible summer, a lovely YA debut from an established children's writer. I'd definitely be keen to read more from Laura!
I think I was nervous because people kept comparing it to The Great Gatsby, and (unpopular opinion incoming), I loathe that book with a passion. Whilst the decadence is lushly described none of the characters have any soul.
The only thing that this gorgeous gem has in common with Gatsby is the parties and the time period.
Someone on Goodreads described it as the "most summery summer book of 2018" and they're not wrong, the summer weather sizzles off the page, from the baking August sun, to the gentle evening sea breezes and most of all the salty chill of the sea Lou loves so much.
The story follows Louise Trevelyan throughout the summer of 1929, starting with her feeling lost and isolated, the empty abandoned Cardew House she has always snuck off to seek refuge in has been reinhabited by its owners and her beloved older sister has married and moved out, leaving Lou to work how to just be the "'and Louise' part of 'Alice and Louise.'"
However she can't stay away from the Cardew House and ends up entangled with the glittering society belles and beaus and the world they inhabit. Over the course of weeks the glamorous but mysterious Cardew siblings turn Lou's world upside down and introduce her to a world she'd only seen in the magazines she loved to pour over with her sister.
The book is glittering, giddy and whips along, ensuring and twirling you along like one of Caitlin Cardew's parties. It vividly describes and evokes the roaring twenties, from the London scene, the quiet, tranquil unaffected village of Penlyn, the fashions and the subtle shifts beginning to happen in society.
I basically read it in one sitting, laughing and swooning as I went. It is not my usual fare and I was unsure why I picked it up at NYALF other than to try something a bit different. My ARC version appears to be some what longer than the final published version and I'd be intrigued to know what was cut because I honestly never felt it was too long.
A Sky Painted Gold is a gorgeous vivid account of an incredible summer, a lovely YA debut from an established children's writer. I'd definitely be keen to read more from Laura!
Another read was the beautiful debut novel of YA author Laura Wood, embodying all the glitz and glamour of the 1920s. I absolutely adored every single aspect of this book: the writing, the characters, the storyline, everything about it was perfect! The beauty of the cover alone is enough to illustrate how gorgeous the book itself was! This is the first piece of YA historical fiction that I've not only read but thoroughly enjoyed. It was a brilliant and refreshing find with so many wonderful aspects. My favourite of these was most definitely the beauty of the characters, from the main character, Lou to her vibrant society friends and her perfectly humble family. The way in which Wood was able to create the setting of Cornwall as a character itself was the cherry on top of an already amazing cake!
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced