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booksinbedinthornhill's review against another edition
5.0
A great semi-autobiographical and magical tale for book lovers and aspiring authors. This definitely goes on my re-reading pile, not something that happens a lot.
bookpossum's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully observed portrait of a girl who is declared to be a born writer, living in the north of England during World War Two. No doubt she is to some extent a portrait of the young Jane Gardam.
A book written for teenage children, and full of wisdom. Jessica must learn to cope with everyday difficulties at school and home, but then comes face to face with death and destruction during a bombing raid. Over the course of a year, her life changes as she learns to cope with fear and loss.
This was Jane Gardam's first novel, and it is very good indeed.
A book written for teenage children, and full of wisdom. Jessica must learn to cope with everyday difficulties at school and home, but then comes face to face with death and destruction during a bombing raid. Over the course of a year, her life changes as she learns to cope with fear and loss.
This was Jane Gardam's first novel, and it is very good indeed.
charlott's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
crochetparrot's review
5.0
I loved it. It was odd and unexpected and just so vivid. If you were ever labelled 'precocious' or 'too clever' or 'brilliant but difficult' at school you'll understand Jessica well. It's an incredibly accurate picture of what it's like to be a confused and lost teenager trying very hard to not seem like you are. There's so much to say about this book but I may have to come back and edit my review later because all I can think is - I loved it.
letterrausch's review against another edition
5.0
Eine wunderschöne Ode an die Teenagerzeit: Jessica Vye ist 12, hat Schriftstellerambitionen, eckt in der Schule ständig an, fühlt sich von ihren Eltern unverstanden und kommt mit ihren Freundinnen nur mehr schlecht als recht klar. Noch dazu ist Krieg, und über ihre verschlafene Küstenstadt in England fliegen ständig deutsche Bomber auf dem Weg ins Innere des Landes.
Jane Gardams erster Roman bietet eine unglaublich starke Protagonistin und wahnsinnig genau beschriebene Situationen. Da wird die Handlung zweitrangig (tatsächlich passiert nicht viel Spannendes). Eignet sich sowohl für junge als auch erwachsene Leser.
Jane Gardams erster Roman bietet eine unglaublich starke Protagonistin und wahnsinnig genau beschriebene Situationen. Da wird die Handlung zweitrangig (tatsächlich passiert nicht viel Spannendes). Eignet sich sowohl für junge als auch erwachsene Leser.
cloudwriter's review against another edition
5.0
"A Long Way from Verona" is one of the most intriguing book titles I have ever come across, perfect for the war-time, not-quite-childhood story Jane Gardam tells.
Jessica Vye is told by an author who comes to read at her school that she will undoubtedly become a writer one day. Consequently, Jessica, the first-person narrator, chronicles the events of about six months during the blitz in Yorkshire with relentless honesty and subtle humour. It is a book about a prophecy -- namely her being a writer -- and how in unexpected ways this prophecy becomes true.
I adore Jessica's voice in this novel. She sounds genuine because she is not always likeable, sometimes wise beyond her age, but her inability to conform and her need to tell the truth make her voice a refreshing one. The fact that she questions rules of adult life alienates some but invites others, like her teacher Miss Philemon. Her world is female, and the few males that populate it, including her father, puzzle her. Which is all the more poignant because it is a male author who encourages and disappoints and applauds her, and the other role models she finds are men too. She does not like the female authors she reads because she does not recognise her own rebelliousness in them.
The title, which alludes to William Shakespeare, reflects her journey as a writer. She doesn't read "Romeo and Juliet" over the Christmas holidays, and has, like many who are only familiar with the title, wrong preconceptions about that love story. Or about her own crush on a boy --- which is where her own honesty fails her. He's a pretty boy with ideas but without a backbone to support them, or indeed her, when she needs him most. Also, Jessica experiments with literary forms; in that regard, her prose is a long way from the poetry she embraces on the way, first in the form of Rupert Brooke, then in her own writing.
This book came to me as a surprise; both because it was a Christmas gift, and because it gave me some ideas to chew on and some poetry to read.
I'm not sure if teenagers in the 21st century will appreciate this literary gem of teenage fiction; there might not be enough action in it (although what action there is is unimaginable to modern youth). But for a reader with a healthy child in her, this is a treasure, and I can't thank my friend enough for picking this book for me.
Jessica Vye is told by an author who comes to read at her school that she will undoubtedly become a writer one day. Consequently, Jessica, the first-person narrator, chronicles the events of about six months during the blitz in Yorkshire with relentless honesty and subtle humour. It is a book about a prophecy -- namely her being a writer -- and how in unexpected ways this prophecy becomes true.
I adore Jessica's voice in this novel. She sounds genuine because she is not always likeable, sometimes wise beyond her age, but her inability to conform and her need to tell the truth make her voice a refreshing one. The fact that she questions rules of adult life alienates some but invites others, like her teacher Miss Philemon. Her world is female, and the few males that populate it, including her father, puzzle her. Which is all the more poignant because it is a male author who encourages and disappoints and applauds her, and the other role models she finds are men too. She does not like the female authors she reads because she does not recognise her own rebelliousness in them.
The title, which alludes to William Shakespeare, reflects her journey as a writer. She doesn't read "Romeo and Juliet" over the Christmas holidays, and has, like many who are only familiar with the title, wrong preconceptions about that love story. Or about her own crush on a boy --- which is where her own honesty fails her. He's a pretty boy with ideas but without a backbone to support them, or indeed her, when she needs him most. Also, Jessica experiments with literary forms; in that regard, her prose is a long way from the poetry she embraces on the way, first in the form of Rupert Brooke, then in her own writing.
This book came to me as a surprise; both because it was a Christmas gift, and because it gave me some ideas to chew on and some poetry to read.
I'm not sure if teenagers in the 21st century will appreciate this literary gem of teenage fiction; there might not be enough action in it (although what action there is is unimaginable to modern youth). But for a reader with a healthy child in her, this is a treasure, and I can't thank my friend enough for picking this book for me.
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know how to describe this book until I saw another Goodreads reviewer's words: "Jessica Vye is the English equivalent of Harriet M. Welsch." -Susann's review Yes! That's it exactly.
whats_margaret_reading's review
4.0
Jane Gardam: good.
This is a little predicable if you've read [b:God on the Rocks|7845751|God on the Rocks|Jane Gardam|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399476782s/7845751.jpg|2682086] or [b:Crusoe's Daughter|318907|Crusoe's Daughter|Jane Gardam|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354038788s/318907.jpg|1164601] but the solid construction and compelling young female characters are a strong positive.
This is a little predicable if you've read [b:God on the Rocks|7845751|God on the Rocks|Jane Gardam|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399476782s/7845751.jpg|2682086] or [b:Crusoe's Daughter|318907|Crusoe's Daughter|Jane Gardam|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1354038788s/318907.jpg|1164601] but the solid construction and compelling young female characters are a strong positive.
jogalt's review
2.0
Fun read, I love writerly historical coming of age stories, but I didn't connect to it.
carola's review against another edition
5.0
Wat zijn die personages van Gardam toch altijd om te smullen! En die heerlijke Britse sfeer! En haar scherpe humor! Prachtig klein verhaal.