Scan barcode
roseleaf24's review
2.0
If you're a reader who loves language for the sake of language and a good character study, this is the book for you.
Those of you who follow my reviews with any regularity know that's not me. I'm not sure how a book about arson and death could be so boring, but the main character in his death bed looking back on everything made it feel like nothing happened. The setting was really unclear to me; the small town was described well, but it was ungrounded. I didn't know time period or country or region, and that was a problem for me, though I suppose it added to the feeling of isolation.
Those of you who follow my reviews with any regularity know that's not me. I'm not sure how a book about arson and death could be so boring, but the main character in his death bed looking back on everything made it feel like nothing happened. The setting was really unclear to me; the small town was described well, but it was ungrounded. I didn't know time period or country or region, and that was a problem for me, though I suppose it added to the feeling of isolation.
elnaann1313's review
3.0
Haunting as usual. She's a great writer, but I'm not sure where she was going with this one. Would love to try it with a book group.
stephxsu's review
2.0
In a muggy and tired Australian country town, a delicate boy by the name of Anwell lives with his oppressive parents. At age 20, Anwell is wasting away on his deathbed, the victim of an unidentifiable disease. In the meantime, his childhood friend, the wild child arsonist Finnigan, roams with his dog, Surrender, who used to be Anwell’s. Told in flashbacks, Anwell remembers his moments with Finnigan, his psychotic control-freak parents, his crush Evangeline, Surrender, and the time he and Finnigan came up with a nickname for himself: Gabriel, the angel. So Gabriel was the good boy and Finnigan the bad.
The town of Mulyan has been rampaged by a firebug on and off for the past few years. These fires tear the town apart and alienate Gabriel’s family even more from everyone. The firebug was never caught, and suspicions and accusations abound and break down any sense of trust this small town could have. The years pass and Gabriel’s parents become more controlling and restrictive. It is only some time before Gabriel finally snaps, and when he does, what secrets do we the readers learn as a result?
Sonya Hartnett has written a beautiful yet tortuous novel. Poetic elegance flows within every sentence. Every single word has been painstakingly chosen for its significance. And from this prose foundation grows a touching and haunting story about the power of parental abuse on a vulnerable child’s mind.
The town of Mulyan has been rampaged by a firebug on and off for the past few years. These fires tear the town apart and alienate Gabriel’s family even more from everyone. The firebug was never caught, and suspicions and accusations abound and break down any sense of trust this small town could have. The years pass and Gabriel’s parents become more controlling and restrictive. It is only some time before Gabriel finally snaps, and when he does, what secrets do we the readers learn as a result?
Sonya Hartnett has written a beautiful yet tortuous novel. Poetic elegance flows within every sentence. Every single word has been painstakingly chosen for its significance. And from this prose foundation grows a touching and haunting story about the power of parental abuse on a vulnerable child’s mind.
jackiehorne's review
4.0
I'd love to talk/write with other people about the conclusion(s) of this book -- what different possibilities can explain it/them?
livid_by_any_other_name's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
haoife00's review
4.0
I really liked the language and imagery a lot. The plot was pretty good too, except every now and then I thought it got slightly boring. But it's still a super good book :)
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book for our deconstruction theory unit in our critical theory class, and I can see why. Told from two perspectives, this book gives a unique point of view of what it means to be good and what it means to be bad. The characters were dynamic, always flawed and always moving forward in their own way.
However, on the back of this book, it's deemed as a psychological thriller--and I agree with that, but as someone who's read quite a bit of horror and psychological thrillers, I guessed the plot twist very early on. But, I'm 23, so the intended audience may not have as much experience as I do with that genre. So therefore, this book is a good place to start.
There's a good play on words in this novel and play on perspective. I'd definitely want to reread this just so I can get a better understanding of just what these characters did and are doing, and just how exactly their minds operate.
Review cross-listed here!
However, on the back of this book, it's deemed as a psychological thriller--and I agree with that, but as someone who's read quite a bit of horror and psychological thrillers, I guessed the plot twist very early on. But, I'm 23, so the intended audience may not have as much experience as I do with that genre. So therefore, this book is a good place to start.
There's a good play on words in this novel and play on perspective. I'd definitely want to reread this just so I can get a better understanding of just what these characters did and are doing, and just how exactly their minds operate.
Review cross-listed here!
lannthacker's review
2.0
YA HARTNETT - psychological thriller, patricide, arson, 2007 Printz honoree
Gabriel/Anwell, Finnigan, Vernon and Surrender are all connected, but to what degree? very dark 14+
Gabriel/Anwell, Finnigan, Vernon and Surrender are all connected, but to what degree? very dark 14+
hikool101's review
1.0
Here we go again with another overly scholarly book for the sake of being scholarly. It's the epitome of pretentious, and I hate using that word. Even outside of that, though, I found the plot boring and the characters unappealing and uninteresting. Meh. 5/10
k8s's review
5.0
I don't know if I have a coherent way to talk about this book yet. It is brilliant and terrifying. I am emotionally drained. It is wonderful, dark, and frightening.