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matthewwester's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I've been a reading a lot of multi-author books lately and they tend to either be one unified story with multiple styles, or a loosely connected bundle of stand-alone stories. Click kinda falls in the middle somewhere, with several of the chapters connecting tightly but others only vaguely related to the main plot.
The chapters didn't seem unified in reading level. The first few chapters seem written for middle school students, with short sentences, simple vocabulary, and G-rated subject matter. Chapter 1, for example, establishes "Grandpa G" as the light-hearted relative who gives his grandchildren a fun, adventurous puzzle/hunt. By the end of the novel, the chapters begin to deal with some more difficult material and seem more suited for older Senior High students; an old man attacks a young girl when she enters his home, there are discussions of extra-marital affairs, and genuine tragedy. It's as if the authors want the reader to grow up while reading the book? Like a subtle Flowers-for-Algernon kind of progression? And if you disagree let me give you a quote from the final chapter, "Her bloodwork was disheartening. Those painful transfusions, two in the last year along, and the implanting of a portal in her naval for the convenient delivery of medication. When she washed, sitting on a plastic stool in the shower stall, she rinsed the aperture with her eyes closed, pretending she was a girl playing doctor. The decontaminant, a local radiation she could apply herself with a silver-nozzled hose, smelled of shallots sizzled too long in the pan until they were dried and caramelized. Or maybe that was her own native smell after all these years. She was caramelized herself, by infirmity and age and sheer stubborn animal endurance." The chapter uses words like simulacrum, vapid, etc., and makes references to Dickens, Magritte, Raphael, "Start spreading the news; I'm leaving today..." etc. Are the first and final chapters of this novel intended for the same reading audience?
I bought this book because I'm trying to read everything Nick Hornby has been a part of, I'll admit. I was also familiar with Gregory Maguire's work, who rewrites fairy tails with an incredibly far-reaching use of vocabulary (both actual and sometimes made-up). But I was also looking forward to getting glimpses of these other YA authors. I have never read any of the Artemis Fowl series, for instance, so I wanted to get a sense of Eoin Colfer's writing. Anyway, my overall review is that the book wasn't bad, it just felt like it wasn't pulled together into one unified project as well as the cover seems to claim, "One Novel Ten Authors."
The chapters didn't seem unified in reading level. The first few chapters seem written for middle school students, with short sentences, simple vocabulary, and G-rated subject matter. Chapter 1, for example, establishes "Grandpa G" as the light-hearted relative who gives his grandchildren a fun, adventurous puzzle/hunt. By the end of the novel, the chapters begin to deal with some more difficult material and seem more suited for older Senior High students; an old man attacks a young girl when she enters his home, there are discussions of extra-marital affairs, and genuine tragedy. It's as if the authors want the reader to grow up while reading the book? Like a subtle Flowers-for-Algernon kind of progression? And if you disagree let me give you a quote from the final chapter, "Her bloodwork was disheartening. Those painful transfusions, two in the last year along, and the implanting of a portal in her naval for the convenient delivery of medication. When she washed, sitting on a plastic stool in the shower stall, she rinsed the aperture with her eyes closed, pretending she was a girl playing doctor. The decontaminant, a local radiation she could apply herself with a silver-nozzled hose, smelled of shallots sizzled too long in the pan until they were dried and caramelized. Or maybe that was her own native smell after all these years. She was caramelized herself, by infirmity and age and sheer stubborn animal endurance." The chapter uses words like simulacrum, vapid, etc., and makes references to Dickens, Magritte, Raphael, "Start spreading the news; I'm leaving today..." etc. Are the first and final chapters of this novel intended for the same reading audience?
I bought this book because I'm trying to read everything Nick Hornby has been a part of, I'll admit. I was also familiar with Gregory Maguire's work, who rewrites fairy tails with an incredibly far-reaching use of vocabulary (both actual and sometimes made-up). But I was also looking forward to getting glimpses of these other YA authors. I have never read any of the Artemis Fowl series, for instance, so I wanted to get a sense of Eoin Colfer's writing. Anyway, my overall review is that the book wasn't bad, it just felt like it wasn't pulled together into one unified project as well as the cover seems to claim, "One Novel Ten Authors."
sternenstaub's review against another edition
4.0
This book was an interesting journey. It's the first time I've read a book in which the story is continuous and connected, but each chapter has a different author and so builds in parallel and fantastic ways as it goes along.
I originally grabbed the book from a donation shelf because I liked a few of the authors, but I was not disappointed by any of them. Storytelling was good and I found all of the characters compelling. It was also a quick read, so definitely worth it if you have a little extra time and want an interesting, twisting diversion.
I originally grabbed the book from a donation shelf because I liked a few of the authors, but I was not disappointed by any of them. Storytelling was good and I found all of the characters compelling. It was also a quick read, so definitely worth it if you have a little extra time and want an interesting, twisting diversion.
milkweedwitch's review against another edition
3.0
I expected so much more from this. Each chapter is written by a different YA author, which made for slightly choppy and incongruent reading. Some chapters were better than others, but by the time I reached the end I found myself kind of embarrassed for the authors who were stuck with the later chapters.
maya_b's review
5.0
This story is about George 'Gee' Keane, who died shortly before the book begins, and then the book tells a new story of a life he changed and how he changed it in each chapter.
I cannot really put into words how much I loved this book and how emotional it got me. I had tears in my eyes from page one, and then the last 80 or so pages it took me ages to read because I was crying so much. It wasn't even really a sad story. Or it was, but the sadness was actually already over? But maybe that's exactly why it made me cry so much. Because in some chapters everything had been so horrible before, and then in said chapter everything seemed to get better, and there was so much hope, even though it was so sad before, and then I just lost it. I thought it was absolutely beautiful, and every single chapter was written so well, and reading about all these emotions and stuff ... I just loved every second of this book.
Also a mix between contemporary fiction, science fiction and some very small fantasy-elements that I did not see coming, but somehow it worked. Great book!
I cannot really put into words how much I loved this book and how emotional it got me. I had tears in my eyes from page one, and then the last 80 or so pages it took me ages to read because I was crying so much. It wasn't even really a sad story. Or it was, but the sadness was actually already over? But maybe that's exactly why it made me cry so much. Because in some chapters everything had been so horrible before, and then in said chapter everything seemed to get better, and there was so much hope, even though it was so sad before, and then I just lost it. I thought it was absolutely beautiful, and every single chapter was written so well, and reading about all these emotions and stuff ... I just loved every second of this book.
Also a mix between contemporary fiction, science fiction and some very small fantasy-elements that I did not see coming, but somehow it worked. Great book!
robintinani's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
allmadhere106's review against another edition
4.0
This novel is told through contributions of ten authors, each one writing their own chapter which features its own character and adds onto the plot. Each chapter/character is somehow connected to the famous photographer Gee Keane, sometimes due to family ties and sometimes because he took pictures with them. These characters are from all around the world and have extremely different stories. The book was a quick read and very fun, especially with the ranging writing styles and themes. As you can see from the tags, the genres ranged according to the writer and this book should be considered by many even if it's just to see the collaboration.
knz_edmo's review against another edition
I loved this book. For me i like to get inside books. In other words i like to live the book. I thought it was a very inspiring book, I think this because it had very many different thoughts and ideas. This was a quick read for me and I liked how it was fast paced. It told of very many lifelines.
dlberglund's review against another edition
5.0
This is billed as a young adult book, but I wish more adults would give young adult novels a chance. I loved it. The chapters are all written by different authors, and most have different narrators from each other. They are all linked however, even if it takes you a few pages to read it. The ending, by Gregory Maguire, was a surprise to me. I want to know more about the authors' process together--how much did they collaborate and map out the direction that the plot would take? How much was independent? Add to it that part of the profits go to Amnesty International, and you've got a winner.
julkatt's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly seamless considering the many different voices involved. I liked all of the stories and a couple were exquisite. Compelling premise with a very intriguing reveal. Published by scholastic, is suitable for YAs as well as adults.