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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a good book, fairly quick to get through, and a lot easier to read than a couple I have tried recently.
It is predominantly set in late 80's Queensland, and is about to boys living in housing commission, with drug dealing parents, and as such, they interact with a variety of interesting characters from that side of town.
This book paints a very interesting picture of life at the time, and how it effects these 2 boys. Very early on we find that the parents are not making great life choices and are not thinking of how it will effect the boys, but they persevere quite well. As the book progresses, we do see character development, and without being in the situation myself, could imaging this is how a person would react. Eli, the main character, becomes angry and it affects those around him.
It follows them from around 12/13 to around 18/19 years old.
There are a few plots that are put in there that I found interesting, but would have liked a little more follow-up on, or a bit more to them, rather than just dropped and never brought up again, or token mentions. Also I found a few elements a little too mysterious and otherworldly for a book so grounded in harsh reality. But that's just me. And all but one of these are there to further the story. And the one that is not, is left up to the readers discretion as to what it means in the end.
As a whole though, enjoyable read that I feel most people could get something out of.
It is predominantly set in late 80's Queensland, and is about to boys living in housing commission, with drug dealing parents, and as such, they interact with a variety of interesting characters from that side of town.
This book paints a very interesting picture of life at the time, and how it effects these 2 boys. Very early on we find that the parents are not making great life choices and are not thinking of how it will effect the boys, but they persevere quite well. As the book progresses, we do see character development, and without being in the situation myself, could imaging this is how a person would react. Eli, the main character, becomes angry and it affects those around him.
It follows them from around 12/13 to around 18/19 years old.
There are a few plots that are put in there that I found interesting, but would have liked a little more follow-up on, or a bit more to them, rather than just dropped and never brought up again, or token mentions. Also I found a few elements a little too mysterious and otherworldly for a book so grounded in harsh reality. But that's just me. And all but one of these are there to further the story. And the one that is not, is left up to the readers discretion as to what it means in the end.
As a whole though, enjoyable read that I feel most people could get something out of.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book was so disturbing and detailed. I really love how the author was able to illustrate ideas so vividly and creatively. You can tell that the author is really talented at descriptive writing.
The reason I had rated it 4 stars as opposed to 5 stars, is because it isn't my favourite genre. However, the overall story was touching.
This book is set in Australia and the author teaches us the humanity behind prisoners through their interaction with the main protagonist. Highly recommend this novel.
The reason I had rated it 4 stars as opposed to 5 stars, is because it isn't my favourite genre. However, the overall story was touching.
This book is set in Australia and the author teaches us the humanity behind prisoners through their interaction with the main protagonist. Highly recommend this novel.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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:
Complicated
I really love the way Trent Dalton writes. There’s something whimsical, almost lyrical, in his prose. In fact, Eli, the main character, is told that the way he writes is very flowery, and while it’s not necessarily said as a compliment within the book, I wholeheartedly mean it as a compliment to Dalton himself. The prose flows so beautifully I just get lost in it.
Boy Swallows Universe follows Eli, a young teenage boy with an absent father, a drug dealer mother and step-father, a mute brother, and an infamous criminal for a baby sitter, on his quest to find answers and justice, to save the people he loves, to become a journalist, and to fall in love. His world is dark and gritty and not really happy, and yet he manages to find happiness and beauty in the muck. He has dreams and ambitions and a heart full of so much love and very few places to put it. I just loved him so much.
I really enjoyed Slim as a character, too. He was honestly just so much fun to read.
This book deals with a lot of heavy topics such as addiction, mental illness, domestic abuse, loss and trauma, so please be aware that this is a heavy book before reading.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No